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KING  COTTON 


KING  COTTON 


A 

Historical  and  Statistical  Review 
1790  to  1908 


BY 

JAMES  L.  WATKINS 

Formerly  Cotton  Expert  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  and  Author  of 
“Production  and  Price  of  Cotton”;  “The  Cost  of  Cotton 
Production”;  “Cotton  and  the  Currency”;  “Con- 
sumption of  Cotton  in  the  United  States  ”; 

“ The  Future  Demand  for 
American  Cotton  ” 


NEW  YORK 

PUBLISHED  BY  JAMES  L.  WATKINS  & SONS 
POST-OFFICE  BOX  1151 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  Year  1908 
by  JAMES  L.  WATKINS,  New  York 
in  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 


ALL  RIGHTS  RESERVED 


PREFACE 


Some  years  ago,  when  the  writer  was  a cotton  planter  in 
North  Alabama,  where  his  father  and  grandfather — the  latter  one 
of  the  earliest  settlers  in  the  Tennessee  Valley — had  been 
successful  planters,  he  began  making  some  investigations  into  the 
history  of  cotton  planting  in  this  country.  It  was  a tradition  in 
the  family  that  a Georgia  kinsman  instead  of  Whitney  was  the 
inventor  of  the  modern  cotton  gin ; interesting  stories  were  told 
of  the  building  of  huge  flatboats  (before  the  advent  of  railroads), 
and  how  they  were  loaded  with  cotton  bales  and  floated  over  the 
dangerous  IMuscle  Shoals  of  the  Tennessee,  and  onward  down 
the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers  to  New  Orleans,  where  they 
were  sold,  and  in  part,  exchanged  for  plantation  supplies.  The 
meagerness  of  any  literature  relating  to  the  cotton  industry 
induced  the  habit,  which  has  never  been  abandoned,  of  collecting 
historical  data  on  the  subject,  the  results  of  which  are  presented 
in  the  following  pages. 

In  compiling  the  statistics  of  annual  supply  and  consumption, 
and  surplus  stocks  of  cotton  in  the  United  States  since  1790,  the 
tables  prepared  by  the  writer  and  published  by  the  Department 
of  Agriculture  in  1895  were  used.  The  subdivision  of  the  statis- 
tics of  production  in  each  State  into-  decennial  periods,  ^^simply 
for  convenience  and  has  no  other  significance. 

In  estimating  the  cotton  crops  of  each  State,  prior  to  the  time 
when  the  railroads  began  to  handle  cotton  and  the  Census  Bureau 
began  to  collect  crop  statistics,  the  total  commercial  crops  have 
been  divided  among  the  States  on  the  basis  of  the  receipts  at 
each  southern  port.  Prior  to  the  above  time,  all  of  the  cotton, 
except  a small  quantity  consumed  by  local  mills,  was  transported 
to  the  ports  and  to  northern  mills  by  river  steamers  and  small 
water  craft.  As  a rule  the  origin  of  the  cotton  received  at  each 
port  was  well  known,  and  often  a matter  of  record.  The  news- 
papers and  market  reports  of  New  Orleans  recorded  the  daily 
arrivals  of  each  steamboat,  and  the  number  of  bales  of  cotton 
carried  by  each,  as  well  as  by  schooners,  barges  and  flatboats. 
In  nearly  every  instance  the  origin  of  the  cotton  was  given. 

By  way  of  illustrating  the  method  pursued  in  estimating  the 
cotton  crop  of  a State,  let  us  take  Alabama.  ' In  old  times  the 
only  waterways  for  marketing  its  crops  were  the  Mobile  river, 

3 


484394- 


4 


PREFACE 


and  its  tributaries,  and  the  Tennessee  and  the  Chattahoochee 
rivers.  The  great  bulk  of  the  crop  was  shipped  to  Mobile,  but 
a certain  well-known  portion  of  the  Mississippi  crop  was  also 
shipped  to  that  port  by  way  of  the  Tombigbee  river,  one  of  the 
tributaries  of  the  Mobile.  The  receipts  from  this  source  were, 
therefore,  deducted  from  the  total  Mobile  receipts  and  credited 
to  the  Mississippi  crop.  All  of  the  northern  Alabama  crop  was 
shipped  to  New  Orleans,  by  way  of  the  Tennessee,  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  rivers.  The  remainder  of  the  crop  from  the  south- 
eastern counties  was  marketed  by  way  of  the  Chattahoochee 
river  through  the  port  of  Appalachicola.  The  commercial  records 
of  each  port  were  carefully  examined  to  ascertain  the  proportion 
of  receipts  from  each  State,  and  while  no  pretense  is  made  to 
accuracy,  the  estimates  fairly  approximate  the  annual  crops. 

In  a like  manner,  the  amount  of  cotton  handled  by  the  water- 
ways of  other  States  was  ascertained,  and  the  total  commercial 
crops  apportioned  to  each  State.  A very  small  proportion  of  the 
crops  was  shipped  North  by  way  of  the  Mississippi  and  Ohio 
rivers,  but  the  origin  of  this  was  also  known  and  often  given 
by  the  commercial  authorities.  After  the  Census  began  collecting 
crop  stahstics  this  authority  'was  used  in  apportioning  the  crops. 
In  many  instances  the  estimates  of  statisticians  and  commercial 
authorities  of  acknowledged  ability  were  accepted. 

Much  attention  is  paid  to  the  progress  of  railway  extension 
in  each  State,  because  it  is  believed  that  to  the  building  of 
railroads  more  than  to  any  other  cause  is  due  the  rapid  develop- 
ment of  the  cotton  industry  in  the  Southwest,  and  the  great 
increase  in  recent  years  in  the  production  of  cotton  in  that  region. 

The  names  of  all  of  the  authorities,  as  well  as  the  titles  of 
all  publications  consulted  in  the  preparation  of  this  work,  will  be 
found  in  the  appended  bibliography.  The  writer  desires  to 
acknowledge  his  indebtedness  to  the  Department  of  Agriculture, 
the  Department  of  Commerce  and  Labor,  the  Weather  Bureau, 
the  Commissioners  of  Agriculture  of  the  cotton  States,  and  to 
southern  correspondents  who  have  furnished  photographs  for  the 
illustrations. 

JAMES  L.  WATKINS. 

New  York,  N.  Y.,  October,  1908. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I 

Earliest  Introduction  of  Cotton  Culture — Difficulty  of  Separating 
Lint  from  the  Seed — Effects  of  the  Invention  of  the  Saw  Gin — Importance 
of  the  Propagation  of  Mexican  Seed — Review  of  Cotton  Production  and 
Prices  in  Each  Decade  Since  1800. 


CHAPTER  H 

VIRGINIA,  and  Its  Cotton  Crops  from  1800  to  1908 — Number  of 
Cotton  Mills  and  Spindles  and  Domestic  Consumption  of  Cotton — Histori- 
cal Data  Relating  to  Cotton  Production. 


CHAPTER  HI 

NORTH  CAROLINA,  and  Its  Cotton  Crops  from  1800  to  1908 — 
Number  of  Cotton  Mills  and  Spindles  and  Domestic  Consumption  of 
Cotton — Historical  Data  Relating  to  Cotton  Production. 


CHAPTER  IV 

SOUTH  CAROLINA,  and  Its  Cotton  Crops  from  1800  to  1908 — 
Number  of  Cotton  Mills  and  Spindles  and  Domestic  Consumption  of 
Cotton — Historical  Data  Relating  to  Cotton  Production. 


CHAPTER  V 

GEORGIA,  and  Its  Cotton  Crops  from  1800  to  igo8 — Number  of 
Cotton  Mills  and  Spindles  and  Domestic  Consumption  of  Cotton — Histori- 
cal Data  Relating  to  Cotton  Production. 


CHAPTER  VI 

FLORIDA,  and  Its  Cotton  Crops  from  1820  to  1908 — Number  of 
Cotton  Mills  and  Spindles  and  Domestic  Consumption  of  Cotton — Histori- 
cal Data  Relating  to  Cotton  Production. 

5 


484394 


6 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  VII 

ALABAMA,  and  Its  Cotton  Crops  from  1807  to  1908 — Number  of 
Cotton  Mills  and  Spindles  and  Domestic  Consumption  of  Cotton — Histori- 
cal Data  Relating  to  Cotton  Production. 


CHAPTER  VIH 

MISSISSIPPI,  and  Its  Cotton  Crops  from  1800  to  1908 — Number  of 
Cotton  Mills  and  Spindles  and  Domestic  Consumption  of  Cotton — Histori- 
cal Data  Relating  to  Cotton  Production. 


CHAPTER  IX 

LOUISIANA,  and  Its  Cotton  Crops  from  1800  to  1908 — Number  of 
Cotton  Mills  and  Spindles  and  Domestic  Consumption  of  Cotton — 
Historical  Data  Relating  to  Cotton  Production. 


CHAPTER  X ■ 

TEXAS,  and  Its  Cotton  Crops  from  1833  to  1908 — Number  of  Cotton 
Mills  and  Spindles  and  Domestic  Consumption  of  Cotton — Historical 
Data  Relating  to  Cotton  Production. 


CHAPTER  XI 

ARKLANSAS,  and  Its  Cotton  Crops  from  1823  to  1908 — Number  of 
Cotton  Mills  and  Spindles  and  Domestic  Consumption  of  Cotton — Histori- 
cal Data  Relating  to  Cotton  Production. 


CHAPTER  XII 

TENNESSEE,  and  Its  Cotton  Crops  from  1800  to  1908 — Number  of 
Cotton  Mills  and  Spindles  and  Domestic  Consumption  of  Cotton — Histori- 
cal Data  Relating  to  Cotton  Production. 


CHAPTER  XHI 

MISSOURI,  and  Its  Cotton  Crops  from  1824  to  1908 — Number  of 
Cotton  Mills  and  Spindles  and  Domestic  Consumption  of  Cotton — • 
Historical  Data  Relating  to  Cotton  Production. 


CONTEXTS 


7 


CHAPTER  XIV 

OKLAHOMA,  and  Its  Cotton  Crops  from  1879  to  1908 — Historical 
Data  Relating  to  Cotton  Production. 


TABLES  OF  STATISTICS 

Table  i — Cotton  Crops  of  the  United  States,  1790-1908. 

“ 2 — Acreage  Planted  in  Cotton  in  Each  State. 

“ 3 — Jklonthly  Condition  Reports  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture. 

“ 4 — ^Monthly  Rainfall  in  the  Cotton  Growing  States.  ■ 

“ 5 — Tons  of  Commercial  Fertilizer  Consumed  in  the  Cotton  States, 

1891-1907. 

“ 6 — Exports  of  Cotton  to  Principal  Foreign  Countries. 

“ 7 — Exports  of  Cotton  from  Each  Customs  District. 

“ 8 — Consumption  and  Production  of  Cotton  in  the  Southern  States, 

1850-1908. 

“ 9 — Production  and  Value  of  Cotton  Since  1790. 

. “ 10 — World’s  Consumption  of  Cotton,  1890  to  1908. 

“ II — Visible  Supply  of  Cotton,  1902  to  1908. 

12 —  Cotton  Ginned  to  Specified  Dates  in  Each  State. 

13 —  Weekly  Visible  Supply  of  American  Cotton,  1902  to  1908. 

14 —  Stocks  of  Cotton  at  United  States  Ports,  Close  of  August. 

“ 15 — Sea-Island  Cotton  Crops,  1897  to  1908. 

16 — Number  of  Cotton  Mills,  Spindles  and  Stocks  in  Each  State. 

“ 17 — Cost  of  Picking  Cotton. 

18 — Dates  of  the  Earliest  Killing  Frosts  in  the  Cotton  States. 

“ 19 — Number  of  Cotton  Spindles  in  the  World. 


Cotton  Production  in  the 
United  States 


CHAPTER  I 

Earliest  Introduction  of  Cotton  Culture — Difficulty  of 
Separating  Lint  from  the  Seed — Effect  of  the  Inven- 
tion OF  THE  Saw  Gin — Importance  of  the  Mexican 
Variety'  of  Cotton — Review  of  Cotton  Production  and 
Prices  in  Each  Decade  Since  1800. 

The  history  of  cotton  production  in  the  United  States  is  the 
history  of  twenty  millions  of  people,  or  more  than  'one-fourth 
of  our  total  population. 

It  is  the  history  of  a people  who  planted  colonies,  conquered 
the  savage  tribes  of  a vast  territory,  cleared  primeval  forests, 
and  laid  out  extensive  plantations. 

It  is  the  history  of  a people  who,  proclaiming  a new  doctrine 
of  civil  liberty,  won  their  independence  after  a long  and  heroic 
struggle,  organized  thirteen  States,  and  founded  a great  landed 
aristocracy  that  for  sixty-odd  years  controlled  the  policy  of  the 
Federal  Government. 

It  is  the  history  of  a people  who,  in  devotion  to  their  construc- 
tion of  the  constitution  of  the  Union,  waged  one  of  the  most  des- 
perate and  disastrous  wars  of  modern  times,  and  failing,  lost  the 
accumulated  wealth  of  a century  and  a half. 

It  is  this  people  who,  finding  their  homes  and  plantations  laid 
waste,  in  a wonderfully  short  space  of  time  rebuilded  their  es- 
tates, reconstructed  their  local  governments,  reorganized  the 
whole  social  fabric,  and  engaged  in  a career  of  industrial  de- 
velopment that  has  challenged  the  admiration  of  all  men. 


9 


10 


COTTON  PRODUCTION  IN  THE  U.  S. 


And,  it  is  this  people  who  are  now  producing  more  than 
three-fourths  of  the  cotton  required  to  operate  the  spindles  and 
looms  that  furnish  the  world  with  its  clothing,  and  who,  in  the 
main,  are  sustaining  an  industry  that  employs  more  capital  and 
labor,  and  enlists  the  attention  of  more  people,  than  any  other 
on  earth.  Surely,  the  origin  and  development  of  such  an  industry 
deserves  the  attention  of  every  student  of  American  history.  Nor 
should  it  be  studied  from  the  mere  standpoint  of  its  utility. 

Cotton  is  a great  civilizer.  But  man  cannot  be  civilized  with- 
out clothing.  Clothe  him  and  he  acquires  a fondness  for  dress ; 
then  he  wants  some  of  the  other  comforts  of  life  and  learns  to 
trade ; trading  begets  a desire  to  own  property,  and  the  habit  of 
industry  is  formed;  thrift  and  industry -result  in  the  ownership 
of  property,  and  property  must  be  protected.  Therefore,  laws 
are  enacted,  and  with  law  and  order  established,  civilization  fol- 
lows. 

But  let  it  be  remembered  that  civilization  is  not  yet  univer- 
sal ; that  of  the  billion-and-a-half  of  the  earth’s  inhabitants  only 
one-third  regularly  wear  clothes,  one-half  are  partially  clothed, 
and  one-sixth  go  almost  naked.  Hence,  the  cotton  planters  of 
this  country  have  yet  a great  work  to  accomplish — the  making  of 
more  cotton,  so  that  two  hundred  and  fifty  millions  of  people 
may  hide  their  nakedness  and  accept  civilization. 

Wpien  Cotton  Was  'First  Introduced 

It  is  not  at  all  improbable  that  the  cotton  plant  is  indigenous 
to  this  country.  It  was  found  in  Brazil  and  Alexico  by  the 
earliest  Spanish  explorers,  growing  in  a climate  and  soil  no 
better  adapted  to  it  than  our  own,  and  in  the  first  half  of  the 
sixteenth  century  cotton  shirts  and  blankets  were  in  use  among 
the  Indians  inhabiting  the  country  which  is  now  a portion  of 
Texas.  It  is  also  said  that  the  plant  was  found  growing  wild 
in  Florida,  and  elsewhere  in  the  South.  But  whatever  the  doubt 
as  to  its  nativity  in  this  country,  we  do  know  something  definite 
as  to  the  beginning  of  its  culture. 

Fourteen  years  after  the  settlement  of  the  Jamestown  colony 
(1621)  it  was  planted  at  Newport  News,  and  “soon  grew  as 
large  in  girth  as  the  arm  of  a man,  and  as  tall  as  a man’s  figure.” 


KING  COTTON 


11 


The  very  first  colonies  that  settled  in  the  Carolinas  began  to 
cultivate  cotton  (1666),  and  in  the  first  years  of  the  eighteenth 
century  it  had  attained  such  importance  in  North  Carolina  as  to 
supplv  clothing  for  one-fifth  of  its  people,  and  in  174:8  it  began 
to  be  exported  in  small  quantities  from  South  Carolina.  As 
early  as  1722  it  was  cultivated  in  Mississippi,  and  six  years  later 
by  the  Louisiana  colonies  with  slave  labor,  though  its  first  intro- 
duction was  undoubtedly  some  years  prior  to  that  date.  In  1734: 
the  Saltzbergers  successfully  experimented  with  it  in  Georgia, 
and  in  1765  the  Spanish  began  its  cultivation  in  Florida.  It 
was  first  introduced  in  Alabama  in  1772,  in  Tennessee  about 
1796,  in  Missouri  in  1803,  in  Arkansas  in  1818,  in  Texas  in  1825, 
and  in  Oklahoma  about  1850. 

Primitive  Gins 

Having  discovered  with  what  success  cotton  could  be  culti- 
vated in  the  southern  country,  the  greatest  drawback  to  its 
plentiful  production  was  the  difficulty  experienced  by  the  early 
planters  in  separating  the  lint  from  the  seed.  At  first  there  was 
no  other  way  than  to  pick  it  out  by  hand  at  the  rate  of  about  a 
pound  a day,  just  as  the  ryots  of  India  had  done  for  many  hun- 
dreds of  years.  But  in  174:2  M.  Dubrueill,  an  enterprising 
French  planter,  invented  a machine  which  so  effectively  cleaned 
the  fiber  from  the  seed  that  it  greatly  stimulated  cotton  culture 
in  the  Louisiana  colony.  The  “bow  string,”  of  East  Indian 
origin,  was  used  in  Georgia  at  a very  early  date.^  In  1772  a 
Mr.  Krebs,  who  planted  cotton  on  the  Pascagoula  river  in  Missis- 
sippi, constructed  a roller  gin  which  came  into  general  use,  and 
which  he  claimed  to  have  invented,  though  it  was  the  same  little 
machine,  perhaps  with  some  modifications,  that  was  of  East 
Indian  origin,  and  was  then  used  in  the  West  Indies.  In  1777 
Kinsey  Burden,  of  South  Carolina,  constructed  a queer  kind  of 
gin  made  with  old  gun  barrels  fastened  on  rollers.  About  the 
year  1790  the  treadle  or  foot  gin  was  introduced  and  greatly 
improved  by  Dr.  Joseph  Eve,  of  Augusta,  Ga.,  who  adapted  it  for 
use  by  horse  or  water  power.  A Mr.  Pottle,  also  of  Georgia, 
made  other  improvements  and  introduced  a gin  that  became 


'Hence,  “Georgia  bowed”  cotton,  a Liverpool  classification  of  Georgia  cotton  at  this  time. 


12 


COTTON  PRODUCTION  IN  THE  U.  S. 


popular.  The  primitive  gins  were  thus  increased  in  capacity 
from  20  or  30  pounds  to  60  or  70  pounds  of  clean  cotton  per 
day.  The  treadle  and  roller  gins  were  in  use  the  latter  part  of  the 
eighteenth,  and  even  the  first  part  of  the  nineteenth  centurv. 

Whitney's  Saw  Gin 

In  1793  Whitney  invented  the  saw  gin,  which  was  patented 
the  following  year.  Whether  or  not  he  was  entitled  to  the  credit 
of  the  invention,  the  saw  gin  was  the  solution  of  the  main  trouble 
that  had  beset  the  cotton  planter  from  the  very  beginning.  It 
gave  him  a machine  that  would  clean  from  600  to  900  pounds 
a day  and  with  which  he  could  make  cotton  at  a profit,  and 
conferred  upon  the  world  untold  blessings.  That  its  immense 
benefits  were  duly  appreciated  when  it  first  came  into  use  is 
evidenced  in  an  opinion  delivered  from  the  bench  by  Judge  John- 
son, in  the  suit  brought  by  Whitney  and  Miller  to  recover  from 
South  Carolina  the  $50,000  appropriated  by  the  legislature  for 
the  purchase  of  the  right  to  use  the  gin  in  that  State.  In  the 
course  of  his  opinion  Judge  Johnson  said:  “The  whole  interior 
of  the  Southern  States  was  languishing,  and  its  inhabitants  emi- 
grating for  want  of  some  object  to  engage  their  attention  and 
employ  their  industry,  when  the  invention  of  this  machine  at 
once  opened  views  to  them,  which  set  the  whole  country  in 
motion.  From  childhood  to  age  it  has  presented  to  us  a lucrative 
employment.  Individuals,  who  were  depressed  with  poverty  and 
sunk  in  idleness,  have  suddenly  risen  to  wealth  and  respectability. 
Our  debts  have  been  paid,  our  capitals  increased  and  our  land 
trebled  in  value.  We  cannot  express  the  weight  of  obligation 
which  the  country  owes  to  this  invention : the  extent  of  it  cannot 
now  be  seen.” 

What  Hargrave,  Arkwright,  Compton  and  Cartwright  accom- 
plished for  the  spinner  and  weaver,  Whitney  with  the  saw  gin 
accomplished  for  the  planter — the  invention  of  a wonderful  labor- 
saving  machine,  all  of  which  cheapened  the  cost  of  growing 
cotton,  of  spinning  it  into  yarn,  of  weaving  it  into  cloth,  and 
thereby  greatly  cheapening  the  cost  of  clothing.  The  main 
obstacle  out  of  the  way,  cotton  production  began  increasing  with 
amazing  rapidity  so  soon  as  the  saw  gin  came  into  general  use, 


KING  COTTON 


13 


the  increase  being  from  35,000  bales  in  1795  to  155,000  in  1800. 
Thereafter,  nothing  short  of  Providential  interference — save  the 
Civil  War — has  stopped  the  steady  and  ever-increasing  produc- 
tion. 

First  Decade,  1800-1810 

Beginning  with  the  first  year  of  the  last  century,  the  total 
commercial  crop  amounted  to  210,526  bales,  and  ten  years  there- 
after it  increased  to  340,000  bales.  During  the  decade  1800-1810, 
the  domestic  consumption  of  cotton,  as  small  as  it  was,  almost 
doubled,  while  the  exports  increased  from  91,716  to  a little 
over  373,000  bales.  The  average  New  York  price,  however, 
decreased  as  the  crops  increased,  middling  upland  being  44  cents 
a pound  in  1800,  but  gradually  dropped  to  16  cents  in  1810. 

Two  important  events  occurred  during  this  period;  the  wide- 
spread destruction  of  the  crops  by  the  cotton  worm  (which  made 
its  appearance  in  South  Carolina  and  Georgia  as  early  as  1793), 
and  the  introduction  in  Mississippi  of  the  Mexican  or  Petit  Gulf 
variety  of  cotton.  From  an  economic  point  of  view  the  intro- 
duction of  this  seed  was  second  in  importance  to  the  invention 
of  the  saw  gin.  Prior  to  its  coming  into  general  use,  about 
1816-1820,  the  varieties  then  in  use  were  subject  to  rot  and  had 
greatly  deteriorated.  The  staple  became  shorter,  the  pods  did 
not  open  widely,  and  adhered  so  tenaciously  that  it  was  difficult 
to  pick.  Before  the  introduction  of  the  Mexican  variety,  the 
average  day’s  picking  for  a hand  was  30  to  40  pounds  of  the 
black  seed,  and  75  to  100  pounds  of  the  Tennessee  green  seed 
variety.  At  first  a hand  could  pick  150  pounds  of  the  Mexican, 
and  this  gradually  increased  to  several  hundred  pounds. 

The  cotton  bales  of  this  period  were  comparatively  small, 
ranging  in  weight  from  228  to  250  pounds  each. 

Second  Decade,  1810-1820. 

The  production  of  cotton  in  each  of  the  first  five  years  of 
this  decade  was  smaller  than  in  1808.  This  was  due  to  the 
wars  and  political  upheavals  in  Europe,  and  our  own  complica- 
tions abroad,  resulting  in  the  war  of  1812  with  England.  All  of 
these  troubles  were 'reflected  in  the  cotton  industry  everywhere. 


14 


COTTON  PRODUCTION  IN  THE  U.  S. 


and  a great  decline  in  prices  followed.  In  1808  and  1809  mid- 
dling cotton  was  worth  19  and  16  cents  in  New  York.  In  1810-11 
it  dropped  to  15^2  cents,  and  the  year  following  to  IOI/2  cents. 

The  war  of  1812  naturally  resulted  in  a great  falling  off  in 
exports.  In  1809,  373,000  bales  were  exported,  and  in  1812  and 
1813  only  77,683  bales  in  the  former,  and  72,069  in  the  latter 
year.  But  while  there  was  a great  loss  to  the  planters  from  this 
source,  the  war  and  the  embarg'o  placed  upon  the  importation  of 
foreign-made  goods  gave  a great  impetus  to  cotton  manufactur- 
ing in  this  country,  and  the  domestic  consumption  increased  to 
more  than  600,000  bales,  or  nearly  70  per  cent. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  with  England  the  crops  increased 
rapidly,  from  457,000  bales  in  1815  to  more  than  600,000  in 
1820.  The  exports  also  increased  during  the  same  period,  from 
302,000  to  484,000  bales,  and  prices  rose  from  21  cents  in  1815 
to  34  cents  in  1818.  But  the  large  crop  of  1819-20,  unprecedented 
at  that  time,  resulted  in  a much  larger  accumulation  of  surplus 
stocks  than  at  any  previous  date,  and  in  consequence,  prices 
declined  from  24  to  17  cents. 

The  weight  of  bales  averaged  about  270  pounds  as  compared 
with  247  the  previous  decade. 

Third  Dec/\de,  1820-1830 

The  commercial  crops  of  this  period  varied  considerably. 
From  647,000  bales  in  1820  there  was  a gradual  increase  until 
1825,  when — for  the  first  time — the  crop  exceeded  1,000,000 
bales.  The  year  following  it  was  957,000,  and  in  1827  it  dropped 
to  720,000  bales,  which  was  a little  less  than  the  production  five 
years  previous.  The  short  crop  of  1827  was  caused  by  the 
ravages  of  the  caterpillar,  and  a great  drought  that  extended 
over  the  entire  cotton  area. 

The  first  great  “bull  movement”  in  the  cotton  market  was 
inaugurated  in  1824-25  in  Liverpool,  when  prices  advanced  from 
7d.  to  16^d.  per  pound.  While  the  advance  was  simply  specula- 
tive it  is  said  to  have  originated  in  the  attempt  of  a Liverpool 
house  to  prove  that  cotton  production  had  reached  its  limit,  and 
that  the  demand  was  greater  than  the  supply.  It  was  currently 


KING  COTTON 


15 


reported  that  one  hundred  millions  sterling  had  been  I'aised  by 
capitalists  to  buy  .up  all  cotton  in  sight.  But  no  doubt  one  cause 
of  the  attempt  to  “bull”  the  market  was  the  very  small  surplus 
stocks  at  Liverpool.  This  extraordinary  rise  in  prices  was 
reflected  in  our  own  markets,  the  New  York  market  advancing 
from  12  to  30  cents  a pound.  In  New  Orleans  middling  cotton 
brought  25  cents  and  in  Charleston  30  cents,  and  even  in  the 
interior  markets  from  22  to  25  cents  was  realized.  Two  years 
after  this  panic  of  prices  the  New  York  market  dropped  to  an 
average  of  about  9J4  cents.  The  lowest  price  during  the  decade 
was  8 cents  and  the  highest  30  cents. 

The  exports  during  this  period  almost  doubled,  increasing 
from  449,000  to  839,000  bales.  iMean while,  the  domestic  con- 
sumption increased,  and  in  1830  amounted  to  126,000  bales.  The 
average  weight  of  bales  increased  to  about  340  pounds  to  the 
bale. 

The  growing  importance  of  cotton  production  in  this  country 
necessitated  some  effort  to  ascertain  the  size  of  the  crop,  and 
the  year  1826  witnessed  the  inauguration  of  the  method  of  col- 
lecting statistics  of  the  movement  of  the  crop  through  the  ports, 
and  by  overland  routes  to  the  points  of  consumption.  This 
method  was  improved  from  time  to  time,  and  is  now  relied  upon 
as  showing  the  distribution  of  the  crop  in  this  country  and 
abroad. 


Fourth  Dec.-\de,  1830-1840 

With  the  exception  of  one  or  two  years,  the  crops  in  this 
decade  show  a steady  gain,  increasing  from  1,039,000  bales  in 
1830  to  2,178,000  in  1839,  the  latter  being  to  date  the  largest 
crop  on  record.  The  crop  of  1838  was  cut  off  about  a half 
million  bales  by  a drought  almost  unprecedented  in  its  disaster, 
which  began  the  first  of  August  and  continued  to  January  fol- 
lowing. 

The  domestic  consumption  increased  from  182,000  to  295,000 
bales,  and  the  foreign  exports  from  773,000  to  1,876,000  bales. 
The  average  weight  of  bales  increased  from  340  to  384  pounds 
each. 

Prices  during  this  period  vacillated  greatly.  In  1831,  for 


16 


COTTON  PRODUCTION  IN  THE  U.  S. 


some  unaccountable  reason,  middling  uplands  sold  in  New  York 
as  low  as  7 cents,  but  in  1835  and  the  two  years  following  it 
commanded  as  high  as  20  cents.  The  advance  of  prices  in  1835 
is  attributed  to  the  liberality  of  the  Bank  of  England  and  other 
banks  in  that  country,  which  lavished  accommodations  upon  mer- 
chants, manufacturers,  and  speculators,  and  so  inflated  the  paper 
currency  that  all  kinds  of  merchandise  rose  to  extravagant  prices. 
Common  qualities  of  cotton  sold  in  Liverpool  for  more  than  a 
shilling  sterling  per  pound,  about  double  the  price,  with  one 
exception,  since  1819.  The  unprecedented  crop  of  1839-40,  and 
the  large  accumulation  of  surplus  stocks,  brought  about  a . reac- 
tion, and  the  New  York  market  declined  to  6 cents,  the  lowest 
price  to  date  ever  witnessed  in  that  market. 

During  the  first  year  of  this  decade  the  first  railroad  in  the 
cotton  States  began  building,  and  was  completed  from  Ham- 
burg (opposite  Augusta,  Ga.)  to  Charleston, . S.  C.  in  1833. 
Virginia,  North  Carolina,  Georgia  and  Alabama  soon  followed 
the  example  of  South  Carolina,  and  it  was  not  many  years  before 
all  of  the  cotton  States  hastened  to  substitute  rail  for  water  trans- 
portation. The  steamboats  were  too  slow,  the  navigable  streams 
too  far  apart,  the  public  roads  too  impassable,  the  trouble  and 
expense  of  getting  to  river  landings  too  great  for  so  precious  a 
freight.  It  must  be  hastened  to  the  consumer,  and  hence  railroads 
were  built  and  telegraph  lines  alongside  of  them.  The  whole 
world  began  to  move  with  quickened  pace  as  never  before,  and  if 
others  gained  thereby,  so  did  the  cotton  planter.  No  more  was 
he  compelled  to  haul  his  crop  many  miles  over  a circuitous  and 
miry  road  to  reach  the  nearest  river  landing,  and  no  more  was 
he  compelled  to  part  with  it  there  and  send  it  to  a commission 
merchant  at  some  distant  port  with  its  attending  delay  and 
expense.  There  is  now  scarcely  a cotton  producing  county  of 
any  importance  but  has  its  railroad,  and  there  are  few  counties 
without  a local  market.  The  cotton  can  be  quickly  delivered 
and  quickly  sold.  What  the  planter  and  the  consumer  owe  to 
the  introduction  of  the  railroad  is  incalculable. 

In  the  year  1839,  the  first  of  the  annual  cotton  planters 
conventions  that  followed  was  held  at  Macon,  Ga.’-  The  price  of 


^ See  Georgia  Notes,  1839  and  1851.  Pages  103  and  108. 


KING  COTTON 


17 


cotton  had  fallen  very  low,  and  the  object  was  to  devise  some 
plan  to  advance  and  control  prices.  Various  schemes  were  pro- 
posed from  time  to  time  but  none  succeeded,  for  two  years  after 
the  JMacon  convention  prices  dropped  a cent  lower,  and  again 
to  5 cents  in  1844-15.  Immense  sales  of  public  lands  were  made 
in  the  Southern  States  from  1830  to  1840,  thus  preparing  for  a 
still  further  increase  in  the  cotton  area. 

Fifth  Decade,  1840-1850 

The  crops  in  this  period  increased  about  75  per  cent.,  which 
was  less  than  that  of  any  other  decade  since  1810.  The  smallest 
crop  was  1,635,000  bales  in  1840,  and  the  largest  2,867,000  bales 
in  l848.  Three  of  the^  crops  were  overtaken  with  disasters  of 
one  kind  or  another.  In  1843  long  and  continuous  rains  over- 
flowed the  Mississippi  and  its  tributaries,  destroying  the  crops, 
and  much  damage  from  the  excessive  rainfall  resulted  in  other 
sections.  In  1845  the  Atlantic  States  sufliered  from  drought,  and 
in  1846  the  caterpillar  invaded  every  section  of  the  cotton  belt, 
and  such  destruction  was  never  before  witnessed. 

The  domestic  consumption  more  than  doubled  in  this  decade, 
and  the  exports  rose  from  1,313,000  to  2,228,000  bales.  The 
average  weight  of  bales  increased  from  394  to  437  pounds  each. 

As  to  prices,  this  was  the  most  remarkable  period  in  the 
history  of  cotton  planting.  Not  only  were  the  lowest  prices 
reached,  but  it  was  the  longest  known  period  of  continuously 
low  prices.  It  was  also  remarkable,  with  a few  exceptions,'  for 
the  largest  crops  on  record  and  for  the  enormous  accumulation 
of  surplus  stocks,  clearly  indicating  that  the  supply  exceeded 
the  demand.  In  1842  middling  to  fair  cotton  dropped  as  low 
as  45^  cents  in  New  Orleans,  and  in  Mobile  it  was  sold  as  low 
as  334  cents  a pound.  In  1845  New  Orleans  quotations  were 
as  low  as  4^  and  Mobile  34;  cents. 

The  cause  of  the  low  prices  seems  to  have  been  well  under- 
stood by  the  economists  of  that  day,  one  declaring  that  “the  evil 
lies  not  in  the  banks,  nor  the  currency,  nor  the  speculators,”  and 
that  “there  was  no  remedy  but  a check  on  production.”^  Another 
said,  “to  our  great  disparagement,  the  facts  show  that  we  have 

1 Hazard’s  Register. 

2 


18 


COTTON  PRODUCTION  IN  THE  U.  S. 


been  guilty  of  the  folly  of  overstocking  the  markets  of  the  world. 
And,  “one  of  the  most  singular  features  of  this  state  of  things,” 
said  Hunt’s  Magazine,  “is  that  this  abundance  of  money  has 
continued  many  months  without  producing  a rise  of  prices  or 
stimulating  trade,  a result  which  it  has  never  before  failed  to 
bring  about.  On  the  contrary,  the  leading  articles  are  constantly 
falling;  cotton,  is  lower  than  has  ever  been  known  before,  arising 
from  superabundance  of  production.” 

In  1818  so  great  was  the  difficulty  in  realizing  money,  even  on 
cotton,  that  extensive  shipments  were  made  on  very  limited 
advancements.  In  a review  of  the  situation  in  1817-18  the  New 
Orleans  Price  Current  said:  “Seldom  if  ever  within  the  period 
of  its  history,  as  the  leading  commercial  interest  of  our  country, 
has  the  cotton  trade  been  subjected  to  so  trying  an  ordeal  as  that 
through  which  it  has  just  passed.  The  early  prices  obtained  were 
satisfactory,  until  October,  when  the  commercial  revolution  which 
prostrated  credit  in  Great  Britain,  and  which  spread  to  the  Conti- 
nent and  to  the  Indies,  put  a sudden  check  to  our  prosperous 
course  and  produced  a more  rapid  depreciation  of  prices  than  we 
remember  ever  to  have  witnessed.  After  recovering  materially 
from  the  shock  produced  by  this  state  of  affairs,  a still  more 
severe  blow  was  given  by  the  startling  intelligence  of  a revolution 
in  France,  and  the  overthrow  of  the  monarchy.  This  movement 
of  the  people,  in  favor  of  popular  rights  rapidly  spread  to  other 
countries  in  Europe,  and  in  the  tumultuous  state  of  political 
affairs,  commercial  credit  was  completely  overthrown,  and  trade 
in  a measure  annihilated.  In  this  general  prostration  of  credit 
and  commerce,  probably  no  interest  connecting  our  own  country 
with  Europe  was  more  severely  affected  than  the  cotton  trade, 
and  prices  here  were  at  times  depressed  to  within  a fraction  of 
the  lowest  prices  of  1843.” 

Sixth  Dec.ade,  1850-1860 

If  the  period,  1840-1850,  was  one  of  disaster,  it  had  its  rec- 
ompense after  all,  for  the  low  prices  induced  the  building  of 
many  more  mills  at  home  and  abroad,  and  greatly  increased  the 
consumption.  This  was  reflected  in  the  decade  following,  1850- 


De  Bow’s  Reveiw. 


KING  COTTON 


19 


1860,  when  both  planters  and  manufacturers  enjoyed  a period 
of  unexampled  prosperity. 

The  crops  increased  from  2,45-4,000  bales  in  1850  to  4,861,000 
in  1859,  or  98  per  cent,  in  ten  years.  In  1853  the  crops  in  the 
Southwestern  States  were  damaged  by  caterpillars  and  black 
rot,  and  in  1854  the  spring  was  very  backward,  the  rains 
unseasonable,  and  frost  late  in  April  killed  so  many  of  the  young 
plants  as  to  require  replanting. 

The  domestic  consumption  increased  from  486,000  to  978,000 
bales,  or  more  than  two-fold,  while  the  exports  increased  from 
1,989,000  bales  in  1850  to  3,774,000  in  1859.  The  average  weight 
of  bales  increased  to  461  pounds  each. 

Although  there  were  wars  and  political  disturbances  in 
Europe,  and  a financial  panic  both  at  home  and  abroad  in  1858, 
with  a suspension  of  specie  payments  in  New  York,  the  con- 
sumption of  cotton  greatly  increased  both  in  Europe  and  in  this 
country,  keeping  fair  pace  with  the  gradually  increasing  crops, 
and  thus  maintaining  prices  with  unusual  uniformity  and  profit 
to  both  planters  and  manufacturers.  It  is  this  steadiness  of 
prices  that  assures  prosperity,  for  violent  fluctuations  always 
unsettle  business,  and  the  planter  is  just  as  much  injured  by  it 
as  the  business  man. 

Seventh  Decade,  1860-1870 

There  is  no  period  in  the  history  of  the  cotton  industry  more 
interesting  and  eventful  than  that  of  1860-1870.  The  Civil  War 
which  began  in  April,  1861,  marks  the  beginning  of  the  great 
“cotton  famine”  which  paralyzed  the  cotton  trade  of  the  world  for 
four  or  five  years.  The  late  Thomas  Ellison,  of  Liverpool,  said 
that  for  some  years  prior  to  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  it  had 
been  foreseen  that  sooner  or  later  a serious  labor  disturbance  in 
the  Southern  States  was  inevitable,  and  in  view  of  the  calamity 
which  such  an  event  would  bring  upon  English  spinners,  every 
effort  was  made  to  discover  new  sources  of  cotton  supply.  But 
although  the  powerful  association  formed  for  the  promotion  of 
this  end  searched  every  nook  and  corner  of  the  cotton  zone,  and 
sent  seed  to  every  one  in  the  four  continents  willing  to  make 
experiments,  they  entirely  failed  to  accomplish  the  object  they 


20 


COTTON  PRODUCTION  IN  THE  U.  S. 


had  in  view.  The  high  prices  caused  by  the  “famine”  brought 
increased  supplies  from  Brazil,  Turkey,  India,  and  China,  but  with 
the  return  of  ante-war  values  the  European  imports  fell  back 
almost  to  the  level  at  which  they  stood  in  1860-1861. 

So  that,  in  spite  of  all  of  the  efforts  made  to  stimulate  the 
growth  of  cotton  in  the  East  Indies,  the  Lavant,  Africa  and 
elsewhere ; in  spite  of  the  freeing  of  four  millions  of  slaves,  if 
the  Civil  War  settled  any  one  question  more  than  another,  it  was 
that  no  portion  of  the  globe  could  successfully  compete  with 
the  Southern  States  in  cotton  production,  and  hence  European 
spinners  are  today  more  than  ever  dependent  upon  the  planters 
of  the  United  States. 

While  the  crop  of  1860  was  3,849,000  bales  and  that  of  1861 
something  like  4,500,000,  the  production  during  the  four  years  of 
war  was  very  small,  and  much  of  that  produced  and  carried  over 
from  previous  years  was  destroyed  by  one  army  or  the  other. 
The  first  year  after  the  war,  such  was  the  disorganized  state  of 
labor  and  the  poverty  of  the  planters,  that  the  crop  amounted  to 
only  2,269,000  bales,  or  100,000  less  than  the  crop  of  1842.  The 
year  following,  a severe  drought  and  the  cotton  worm  damaged 
the  crop  so  badl}?  that  it  turned  out  only  2,097,000  bales.  After 
this  there  was  a gradual  increase  until  1869,  when  the  crop 
reached  3,122,000  bales. 

The  “famine”  produced  by  the  war  naturally  resulted  in 
extraordinary  prices.  During  two  years,  1864  and  1865,  cotton 
was  quoted  in  New  York  at  over  $1.80  a pound,  and  in  Liverpool, 
even  with  the  balance  of  the  world  to  draw  upon,  it  rose  to 
31^  d.  a pound.  Following  the  resumption  of  planting  prices 
began  to  decline,  and  this  was  helped  along  by  the  dullness  of 
trade  in  the  Manchester  district  in  1867,  when  there  was  a sharp 
decline  that  continued  until  1871. 

During  the  war  period  (1862)  Congress  passed  an  act  levying 
an  internal  revenue  tax  of  2 cents  a pound  on  raw  cotton.  Being 
a direct  tax,  its  legality  under  the  constitution  was  seriously 
questioned,  but  the  act  was  passed  as  “a  war  measure.”  In  1866 
the  New  York  Chamber  of  Commerce  held  a meeting  and  pro- 
tested against  the  tax,  saying,  in  a report  on  the  subject,  that  they 
were  “deeply  impressed  with  the  feeling  that  the  cultivation  of 


KING  COTTON 


•21 


cotton  should  be  encouraged  and  not  discouraged  by  onerous 
taxation;  that  it  would  be  wiser  to  lift  up  those  who  are  now 
downcast,  and  by  just  and  generous  legislation  to  inspire  the 
Southern  people  with  hope  of  better  days,  rather  than,  by  an 
opposite  course,  to  prolong  the  era  of  political  and  commercial 
distrust.”  After  collecting  over  $68,000,000  from  the  planters 
this  unjust  and  oppressive  tax  was  repealed  in  1868. 

Eighth  Decade,  1870-1880 

This  period  was  marked  by  renewed  energy  in  every  section 
of  the  cotton  belt.  Labor  was  now  under  better  control ; young, 
enterprising,  and  active  men  had  taken  the  place  of  older  and 
less  progressive  planters;  more  of  the  rich  alluvial  lands  in  the 
valleys  of  Arkansas,  Mississippi  and  Texas  were  brought  under 
cultivation ; and  the  discovery  and  working  of  the  rich  phosphate 
deposits  of  South  Carolina  had  greatly  cheapened  and  extended 
the  use  of  commercial  fertilizers,  and  induced  more  intensive 
methods  of  culture.  The  increase  of  white  labor  in  the  cotton 
fields  was  another  great  factor  in  the  progress  of  cotton  cultiva- 
tion, for  it  was  this  labor  that  so  greatly  increased  the  crops  of 
the  Carolinas,  Georgia,  Arkansas  and  Texas.^  The  building 
and  extension  of  railroads,  especially  in  the  Trans-Mississippi 
country,  thus  opening  up  large  bodies  of  land  in  the  Southwest, 
also  had  a telling  effect  upon  the  increased  production  at  this 
time.  At  the  close  of  the  decade  15,873  miles  of  railway  were 
operated  in  ten  of  the  leading  cotton  States. 

In  1870  the  cotton  crop  amounted  to  4,352,000  bales.  The 
two  years  following,  and  especially  in  1871,  the  yield  was  very 
much  reduced  by  the  ravages  of  the  caterpillar.  The  crops  grad- 
ually increased,  and  in  1878,  the  production  (5,074,000  bales) 
equaled  and  even  exceeded  the  crop  of  1859',  the  largest  ever 
made  with  slave  labor.  It  took  fourteen  years  to  recover  from 
the  disastrous  effects  of  the  Civil  War,  but  when  the  condition  of 
affairs  in  the  South  from  1866  to  1878  is  taken  into  account,  the 
production  of  such  a crop  in  so  short  a time  was  truly  a great 
achievement.  The  crop  of  the  following  year  (1859)  again 
showed  a large  increase,  amounting  to  5,761,000  bales. 


^ In  1876  it  was  estimated  that  of  the  cotton  field  labor  in  Texas  6 2 per  cent,  was  white. 


22 


COTTON  PRODUCTION  IN  THE  U.  S. 


Notwithstanding  the  gradual  increase  in  yield,  it  would  have 
been  much  greater  but  for  the  destruction  by  the  cotton  worm. 
The  Department  of  Agriculture  estimated  that  from  1875  to 
1878,  inclusive,  the  loss  amounted  in  the  aggregate  to  3,417,100 
bales.  At  the  average  current  prices  for  those  years  the  planters 
sustained  a loss  of  fully  $175,000,000. 

The  domestic  consumption  in  this  period,  increased  from 

1.110.000  to  1,790,000  bales,  and  the  exports  from  3,169,000  to 

3.885.000  bales.  The  average  weight  of  the  bales  increased  from 
442  to  454  pounds  each. 

This  was  a period  of  remarkable  fluctuations  in  prices,  pro- 
duced by  the  war  in  Europe,  strikes  and  trade  depressions  in 
England,  famine  in  the  East,  and  the  financial  panic  of  1873. 
The  comparatively  small  stocks  at  the  close  of  1872,  and  a crop 
over  a million  and  a quarter  bales  smaller,  together  with  an 
increased  demand  at  home  and  abroad,  resulted  in  a considerable 
advance  in  prices,  the  New  York  market  rising  to  26'^  cents. 
However,  with  increasing  crops,  and  the  very  large  accumulation 
of  stocks  at  the  close  of  the  years  1875-1876,  prices  gradually 
declined  until  1879. 

It  was  during  this  period  that  Cotton  Exchanges  were  organ- 
ized in  New  York,  New  Orleans  and  other  Southern  cities,  which 
resulted  in  a complete  revolution  in  the  cotton  industry.  What 
effect  they  have  had  upon  prices,  and  marketing  of  the  cotton 
crops  is  reviewed  elsewhere. 

NiNTti  Decade,  1880-1890 

The  first  year  of  this  period  the  cotton  acreage  was  the  largest 
ever  planted,  and  the  season  being  a good  one,  resulted  in  the 
production  of  6,606,000  bales,  to  date,  the  largest  crop  on  record. 
The  next  year  (1881)  the  crops  suffered  from  a severe  midsum- 
mer drought ; great  damage  resulted  from  overflows  in  the 
Mississippi  river  districts,  and  the  cotton  worm  was  unusually 
destructive,  resulting  in  a loss  of  over  a million  bales.  In  the 
spring  of  1883  excessive  and  continuous  rains  interfered  with 
planting  and  the  season  was  so  backward  that,  with  other  mis- 
fortunes to  the  crop,  the  yield  fell  short  of  that  of  the  previous 
year  by  a million  and  a quarter  bales.  In  1887  the  first  seven- 


KING  COTTON 


23 


million-bale  crop  was  made,  and  in  1889  this  increased  to 

7.311.000  bales.  The  percentage  of  increase  in  production  in  ten 
years  was  35  per  cent,  as  compared  with  91  per  cent,  in  the  decade 
1870-1880. 

The  domestic  consumption  increased  from  1,938,000  to 

2.391.000  bales,  and  the  exports  from  3,583,000  to  4,907,000 
bales.  The  weight  of  bales  increased  from  460  to  478  pounds 
each. 

Prices  throughout  this  period  were  maintained  with  remark- 
able uniformity,  although  at  times  there  were  complaints  of  an 
accumulation  of  manufactured  goods,  the  supply  being  in  excess 
of  the  demand.  At  the  close  of  the  season  in  1889  and  1890, 
while  the  accumulation  of  surplus  stocks  of  cotton  were  unusually 
small  in  this  country,  they  were  much  larger  in  Europe  than  ever 
before. 

During  this  period  many  new  railroads  were  built  and  the 
lines  of  old  roads  extended.  The  increase  in  mileage  was  greater 
than  ever  before  in  the  Southwest,  and  this  was  evidenced  in 
the  increased  cotton  crops  in  that  section.  In  1888  the  Texas 
crop  reached  1,594,000  bales,  placing  it  in  the  lead  as  a cotton  pro- 
ducing State,  a position  it  has  held  ever  since.  Ten  years  before 
the  area  under  cotton  cultivation  in  Texas  was  15  per  cent,  of  the 
whole,  and  in  1889  it  was  nearly  20  per  cent. 

Tenth  Decade,  1890-1900 

This  was  a period  in  many  respects  resembling  that  of  1840- 
1850.  Like  the  latter  it  was  a period  of  large  crops,  larger  than 
the  world’s  requirements,  and  consequently  of  extraordinarily 
low  prices.  It  was  remarkable  too  for  having  produced  the 
first  eight,  the  first  nine,  and  tlie  first  eleven-million-bale  crop ; 
also  for  a crop  as  small  as  6,700,000  bales. 

1\  hen  so  larg'e  a crop  as  nine  million  bales  was  made  in  1891- 
02,  it  occasioned  great  surprise  in  the  cotton  trade,  but  when  the 
first  eleven-million-bale  crop  was  made  (1897-98),  and  this  was 
followed  in  succession  by  another  of  eleven  and  a quarter,  the 
whole  world  was  amazed. 

The  short  crops  of  1892  and  1893  (6,700,000  and  7,550,000 
bales)  were  due,  not  only  to  a largely  reduced  acreage  resulting 


24 


COTTON  PRODUCTION  IN  THE  U.  S. 


from  the  discouraging  low  prices  of  1891,  but  to  unusually  late 
planting  on  account  of  overflows  in  the  Mississippi  river  dis- 
tricts in  the  spring  of  1893,  followed  in  the  summer  by  a dis- 
astrous drought.  When  the  crop  of  1894-95  reached  nearly  ten 
million  bales,  and  prices  again  dropped  to  a very  low  level,  the 
planters  became  alarmed,  and  holding  a convention  to  discuss 
the  situation,  a crusade  was  begun  to  reduce  the  acreage,  which 
resulted  in  another  small  crop. 

The  domestic  consumption  did  not  increase  with  the  steadiness 
of  the  previous  decade,  but  it  rose  from  2,632,000  bales  in  1890 
to  3,665,000  bales  in  1899.  The  exports  increased  from  4,410,000 
to  7,674,000  bales.  The  average  weight  of  bales  increased  from 
473  to  489  pounds  each. 

Beginning  with  1890  prices  began  to  decline,  the  average  of 
the  year  in  New  York  being  23^  cents  lower  than  that  of  the 
previous  year.  In  1891-92  there  was  a still  - further  decline  and 
a reaction  in  favor  of  higher  prices  in  1892-93,  on  account  of 
the  diminished  crop.  The  great  crop  of  1894  again  surfeited  the 
market  with  the  raw  material.  The  business  depression  among 
the  New  England  manufacturers  caused  such  a reduction  in  con- 
sumption that  we  sent  at  least  300,000  to  400,000  bales  more  to 
Liverpool  than  would  otherwise  have  been  received,  and  thereby 
kept  that  market  constantly  overstocked.  On  November  12th 
middling  spots  in  Liverpool  dropped  to  21^,  the  lowest  price  on 
record  in  that  market.  In  New  York  middling  declined  to  brli, 
but  there  was  a reaction  later  in  the  season,  the  conditions  point- 
ing to  a short  crop  in  185'5.  During  the  latter  season,  and  that 
of  1896-97,  prices  remained  comparatively  steady.  In  1897-98 
and  1898-99,  the  years  of  the  two  largest  crops  on  record  to  date, 
prices  dropped  as  low  as  5^4  in  the  former  and  5fli-  in  the 
latter  year.  In  Liverpool  the  price  fell  to  3d.  in  1898-99,  and  in 
New  York,  with  the  exception  of  two  years  in  the  decade  1840- 
1850,  the  lowest  price  on  record  was  reached. 

As  to  the  causes  of  the  great  fall  in  prices  during  this  decade, 
some  of  the  reasons  assigned  by  leading  commercial  authorities 
were : crops  altogether  disproportionate  to  the  wants  of  the  world ; 
the  failure  of  the  great  London  banking  house  of  Baring  Bros. 
& Co.,  and  the  collapse  of  credit;  the  Japanese-Chinese  war 


KING  COTTON 


25 

(1894-95),  and  universal  trade  depression  following  the  financial 
panic  of  1893. 

Two  important  events  occurred  in  this  period ; the  invasion  of 
the  Texas  cotton  fields  in  1892  by  the  jMexican  boll-weevil;  and 
the  introduction  of  a bill  in  the  House  of  Representatives  known 
as  the  “Hatch  Anti-Option  Bill,”  followed  by  the  appointment  by 
the  United  States  Senate  (1892)  of  a committee  to  investigate 
and  report  upon  the  “Condition  of  Cotton  Growers  in  the  United 
States,  the  Present  Prices  of  Cotton,  and  the  Remedy.” 

As  to  the  boll-weevil,  while  it  has  spread  with  remarkable 
rapidity  from  county  to  county,  and  now  infests  more  than  two- 
thirds  of  the  cotton  area  of  Texas,  the  greater  portion  of  that  of 
Louisiana,  and  has  crossed  the  Red  river  into  Oklahoma,  and 
the  Mississippi  river  into  Mississippi,  its  enormous  destruction 
of  the  crops  may  after  all  have  been  a blessing  in  disguise.  Cer- 
tainly during  the  decade,  1890-1900,  the  world  could  not  have 
consumed  much  more  cotton  than  was  produced,  and  certainly 
if  much  more  had  been  produced  it  would  have  resulted  in 
ruinous  prices. 

As  to  the  investigation  of  the  cause  of  low  prices  by  the 
Senate  Committee,  the  avowed  purpose  of  which  was  to  prove 
that  speculation  in  cotton  futures  and  the  demonetization  of  silver 
were  the  causes  of  low  prices,  the  Committee  in  its  report  was 
forced  to  admit  that  the  “obvious,  apparent,  and  proximate  cause 
is  overproduction.  Since,  in  the  main,  with  deviations  produced 
by  abnormal  conditions,  price  is  regulated  by  supply  and  demand 
— a full  supply  with  relatively  diminished  demand  bringing  low 
prices,  and  a great  and  active  demand  with  relatively  diminished 
supply  bringing  higher  prices — where  there  is  an  annual 
increasing  supply  there  ought  to  be,  to  maintain  prices,  an  annual 
increasing  demand.”  And  this  conclusion  was  supported  by  the 
preponderance  of  the  evidence  taken,  which  showed  that  in  the 
opinion  of  the  witnesses,  some  of  whom  were  cotton  planters,  the 
low  prices  were  due  mainly  to  overproduction. 

Eleventh  Period,  1900  to  1908 

This  period  in  many  respects  was  the  most  remarkable  in  the 
history  of  the  cotton  industry.  Two  of  the  crops  were  the 


26 


COTTON  PRODUCTION  IN  THE  U.  S. 


largest  on  record,  and  one  of  them  so  small  as  to  produce  a 
“famine,”  the  like  of  which  was  never  before  experienced  except 
during  the  Civil  War.  It  witnessed  the  formation  of  two  “bull" 
pools  that  forced  cotton  futures  to  an  extravagant  price ; the 
spread  of  the  Mexican  boll-weevil  over  a great  area,  covering  the 
major  portion  of  Texas  and  Louisiana  and  portions  of  Arkansas, 
Mississippi  and  Oklahoma;  the  extension  of  cotton  culture  into 
the  Staked  Plains  and  Pan  Handle  of  Texas;  a great  and  un- 
precedented increase  in  the  cotton  acreage ; the  production  of  a 
four-million-bale  crop  in  Texas;  the  admission  of  a new  cotton 
State  into  the  Union ; and  a great  increase  in  the  number  of 
cotton  mills  in  the  Southern  States,  as  well  as  in  Great  Britain. 

Beginning  with  a crop  of  10,383,000  bales  in  1900,  there  was 
an  increase  to  10,681,000  in  1901,  and  to  10,727,000  in  1902, 
which  were  the  three  largest  crops  to  date,  excepting  those  of 
1897-98  and  1898-99.  The  area  in  cotton  the  next  year  (1903) 
though  the  largest  to  date — exceeding  28,000,000  acres — and 
under  ordinary  circumstances  should  have  yielded  a crop  of 
11,000,000  bales,  turned  out  only  a little  over  10,000,000  bales. 
The  small  yield  was  due  to  a very  unfavorable  season.  The  spring 
was  so  wet  and  cold,  that  planting  was  not  only  delayed,  but  the 
seed  germinated  so  slowly  as  to  make  the  crop  one  of  the  latest 
in  many  years.  If  this  season  was  an  unusually  poor  one  that 
of  1904-05  proved  one  of  the  most  perfect  in  the  experience  of 
planters.  The  area  was  increased  to  over  32,000,000  acres, 
the  largest  on  record,  and  the  result  was  the  amazing 
yield  of  nearly,  if  not  fully,  14,000,000  bales — though  several  hun- 
dred thousand  of  which  were  not  marketed  until  the  following 
year.  The  production  in  every  State,  excepting  Texas  and  Ten- 
nessee, surpassed  all  previous  records. 

The  crop  of  1905-06  was  another  small  one,  the  midsummer 
season  in  the  Atlantic  and  Middle  Gulf  States  being  very  un- 
favorable on  account  of  the  excessive  rainfall.  The  commercial 
crop  turned  out  11,346,000  bales,  but  several  hundred  thousand 
bales  of  this  were  brought  forward  from  the  great  crop  of 
1904-05.  The  season  1906-07  witnessed  another  large  increase 
in  acreage,  and  the  season  being  favorable  the  crop  exceeded 
13,500,000  bales. 


KING  COTTON 


27 

The  domestic  consumption  during  this  period  rose  from 
3,588,000  to  nearly  5,000,000  bales,  the  Southern  States  showing 
an  increase  of  about  55  per  cent.,  and  the  Northern  States  about 
25  per  cent.  The  exports  increased  to  8,768,000  bales  in  1904-05, 
the  largest  on  record.  Referring  to  the  value  of  the  exports  of 
that  season,  the  report  of  the  Department  of  Commerce  said; 
“Cotton  is  King  in  the  export  record  of  the  United  States  for 
the  fiscal  year  just  ended.  The  total  value  of  raw  cotton  exported 
for  the  first  time  crossed  the  $400,000,000  line  and  exceeded  by 
far  the  value  of  any  other  article  of  merchandise  sent  out  of  this 
country.’’  The  value  of  the  exports  in  1906-07,  even  exceeded 
that  of  1904-05,  amounting  to  over  $471,000,000. 

The  remarkable  fluctuation  in  prices  was  a notable  feature 
during  this  period.  From  9^  cents  at  the  beginning  of  the 
season,  1900,  the  price  of  middling  in  New  York  advanced  to  12 
cents  in  January,  1902,  but  in  August  declined  to  8 cents.  In 
1902-03  the  spot  market  opened  at  9 cents,  declined  to  8.30  in 
November,  and  rose  to  13jd  in  August,  1903.  The  New  Orleans 
market  showed  a still  wider  range  of  fluctuations.  So  wide  a 
fluctuation  has  not  occurred  in  either  market  since  1874.  In  New 
Orleans  a "bull  pool”  was  formed  which  managed  to  acquire  a 
large  quantity  of  cotton  for  Juh"  and  August  delivery,  and  early 
in  the  latter  month  had  bought  up  practically  all  of  the  spot 
cotton  in  sight.  This  sent  prices  up  in  New  Orleans  to  13 
cents,  and  as  a result  closed  nearl}"  one-fourth  of  the  spindles  in 
this  country. 

Though  the  fluctuations  in  1902-03  were  great,  they  were  not 
comparable  to  the  extreme  and  violent  fluctuations  in  1903-04. 
The  lowest  price  of  middling  in  New  York  was  9.5  cents  in 
October,  while  the  highest  price  reached  was  17.25  cents  in  Feb- 
ruary— a difference  of  7.75  cents  per  pound  or  $38.75  a bale.  The 
lowest  New  Orleans  price  was  cents  in  October,  and  the 
highest  16rir  in  February — a difference  of  7.31  cents  per  pound, 
or  $36.56  a bale.  After  the  collapse  of  the  great  “bull”  move- 
ment in  New  York  about  the  middle  of  March,  prices  graduall}^ 
declined  in  that  market  to  10j4  cents  in  August,  and  to  10 
cents  in  New  Orleans. 

The  crops  of  1902-03  and  1903-04  were  so  small,  and  prices 


28 


COTTON  PRODUCTION  IN  THE  U.  S. 


were  so  high,  that  many  mills  in  this  country  and  abroad  were 
forced  to  close  down,  and  others  to  run  on  short  time.  In 
Lancaster  especially  the  “famine”  resulted  in  great  distress 
among  the  operatives,  and  great  loss  to  the  manufacturers. 

The  season  1904-05  was  another  of  great  fluctuations  in 
prices.  Early  in  September  middling  was  worth  11  cents,  but 
by  the  end  of  December  declined  to  6.95  cents.  Toward  the 
close  of  the  season  11  cents  was  again  realized.  Though  the 
crop  of  1905-06  turned  out  over  two  million  bales  less  than  that  of 
the  previous  year,  the  fluctuations  were  much  narrower  than 
for  some  years,  the  range  in  the  fall  months  being  from  10.10 
to  12.60  cents.  The  latter  end  of  August,  with  a large  crop  in 
prospect,  prices  declined  a little  below  10  cents.  In  the  season  of 
1906-07  the  fluctuations  were  considerable,  the  fall  prices  ranging 
from  9.80  cents  to  11.20  cents.  Late  in  the  spring  there  was  an 
advance  to  12.90  cents,  and  to  13j4  cents  in  August,  the  result 
of  a wide-spread  and  disastrous  drought  in  Texas  and  the 
adjacent  territory,  indicating  a very  low  yield  in  that  section  of 
the  cotton  belt. 


KING  COTTON 


29 


Cotton  Crops  of  the  United  States,  1790-1908 


Prices  (middling  upland)  per  pound 


Suppl}',  Consumption,  Exports,  (Surplus  Stocks  and  Prices) 


In  New  York 


In  Liverpool 


Year 

L!.L,j 

Crops 

Consumption 

Exports 

Stocks ' 
(close  of 
year) 

Net 
weight 
of  bales 

Low- 

est 

High- 

est 

Aver- 

age 

I ow- 
est 

High- 

est 

Aver- 

age 

Bales 

Bales 

Bales 

Bales 

Pounds 

Cents 

Pe 

nee 

1790-91 

8,889 

No  data 

889 

No  data 

225 

26 

13 

30 

1791-92 

13,333 

635 

do 

225 

29 

20 

30 

1792-93 

22,222 

2,222 

do 

225 

32 

13 

22 

1793-94 

35,556 

do 

7,407 

do 

225 

33 

12 

18 

1794-95 

35,556 

do 

27,822 

do 

225 

36^ 

15 

27 

1795-96 

44,444 

do 

27,141 

do 

225 

36^ 

12 

29 

1796-97 

48,889 

do 

16,837 

do 

225 

34 

12 

37 

1797-98 

66,667 

do 

41,600 

do 

225 

39 

22 

45 

1798-99 

88,889 

do 

42,366 

do 

225 

44 

17 

60 

1799-00 

155,556 

35,556 

79,066 

do 

225 

28 

16 

36 

8100-01 

210,526 

39,474 

91,716 

No  data 

228 

44 

17 

38 

18 

1801-02 

241,228 

No  data 

120,619 

do 

228 

19 

12 

38 

16 

1802-03 

252  101 

do 

158,454 

do 

238 

19 

8 

15 

124 

1803-04 

240,741 

do 

129,756 

do 

270 

20 

10 

IS 

14 

1804-05 

281,128 

44,177 

154,101 

do 

249 

23 

14 

19 

164 

1805-06 

347,826 

No  data 

155,032 

do 

230 

22 

12 

15 

i8i 

1806-07 

285,714 

do 

228,362 

do 

280 

2U 

10 

14 

i4i 

1807-08 

271,739 

do 

38,516 

do 

276 

19 

9 

30 

22 

1808-09 

366,071 

do 

227,635 

do 

224 

16 

10 

18 

20 

1809-10 

340,000 

64,000 

373,046 

do 

250 

16 

10 

19 

154 

1810-11 

269,360 

57,239 

208,950 

No  data 

297 

12i 

1811-12 

304,878 

No  data 

117,428 

do 

246 

lOi 

16| 

1812-13 

304,878 

do 

77,683 

do 

246 

I2i 

23 

1813-14 

284,553 

do 

72,069 

do 

246 

15i 

29i 

1814-15 

363,636 

90,000 

301,814 

do 

275 

21 

20| 

1815-16 

457,565 

No  data 

302,388 

do 

271 

29 

18-f 

1816-17 

460,993 

do 

303,721 

do 

282 

26 

20i 

1817-18 

448,029 

do 

331,438 

do 

279 

34 

20 

1818-19 

596,429 

do 

314,275 

do 

280 

24 

124 

1819-20 

606,061 

do 

484,319 

do 

264 

17 

Ui 

1820-21 

647,482 

No  data 

449,257 

No  data 

278 

11 

20 

14.32 

7 

94 

8.14 

1821-22 

742,049 

do 

511,219 

do 

283 

10 

18 

14.32 

Si 

74 

6.95 

1822-23 

620,805 

do 

582,964 

do 

298 

9 

17 

11.40 

6i 

sh 

7.21 

1823-24 

762,411 

do 

504,857 

do 

282 

lU 

18 

14.65 

7 

9 

7.66 

1824-25 

891,608 

do 

616,958 

do 

286 

12 

30 

18,59 

7 

164 

11.62 

1825-26 

1.121,667 

do 

655,562 

do 

312 

9 

m 

12.19 

5i 

64 

5.85 

1826-27 

957,281 

149,516 

854,000 

do 

331 

8f 

Hi 

9.29 

4i 

6? 

5.79 

1827-28 

720,593 

120,593 

600,000 

40,000 

335 

8i 

13 

10.32 

5 

6f 

5.84 

1828-29 

870,415 

118,853 

740,000 

30,000 

341 

8 

Hi 

9.88 

5 

64 

5.32 

1829-30 

976,845 

126,512 

839,000 

35,000 

339 

8 

12i 

10.04 

6 

6| 

6.44 

1830-31 

1,038,847 

182,142 

773,000 

119,000 

341 

7} 

13i 

9.71 

5i 

6 

5.38 

1831-32 

987,477 

173,800 

892,000 

41,600 

360 

7 

12 

9.38 

54 

7 

6.22 

1832-33 

1,070,438 

194,412 

867,000 

48,200 

350 

9i 

17 

12.32 

104 

7.87 

1833-34 

1,205,394 

196,413 

1,028,000 

29,600 

363 

94 

18 

12.90 

7^ 

94 

8 10 

1834.35 

1,254,328 

216,888 

1,023,000 

41,600 

367 

m 

20 

17.45 

74 

104 

9.13 

1835-36 

1,360,725 

236,733 

1,116,000 

43,300 

373 

m 

20 

16.50 

74 

10 

8.79 

1836-37 

1,423,930 

222,540 

1,169,000 

75,800 

379 

7i 

20 

13.25 

5 

8 

6 09 

1837-38 

1,801,497 

246,063 

1,575,000 

40,300 

379 

7i 

14 

10.14 

54 

7h 

6.28 

1838-39 

1,360,532 

267,018 

1,074,000 

52,250 

384 

17 

13.36 

64 

84 

7.19 

1839-40 

2,177,835 

295,193 

1,876,000 

58,442 

383 

6 

13i 

8.92 

54 

6^ 

5.42 

^ Port  stocks. 


30 


COTTON  PRODUCTION  IN  THE  U.  S 


Cotton  Crops  of  the  United  States,  1790-1908 — Con. 


Supply,  Consumption,  Exports  (Surplus  Stocks  and  Prices; 


Year 

Crops 

Consumption 

Exports 

Stdcks  - 
(close  of 
year) 

Net 
weight 
of  bales 

Low- 

est 

High- 

est 

Aver- 

age 

Low- 

est 

High- 

est 

A'\’er- 

age 

Bales 

Bales 

Bales 

Bales 

Pounds 

Cents 

Pe 

nee 

1840-41 

1,634,954 

297,288 

1,313,500 

72,4,0 

394 

7 

11} 

9.50 

5} 

6} 

5.73 

1841-42 

1,683,574 

267,850 

1,465,.50U 

31,807 

39/ 

5 

10} 

7.85 

.4} 

5} 

4.86 

1842-43 

2,378,875 

325,129 

2,010,000 

91,486 

409 

6i 

8} 

7.25 

3} 

5 

4.37 

1843-44 

2,0,30,409 

346,750 

1,629,, 500 

159,772 

412 

51 

9} 

7.73 

3} 

5} 

4.71 

1844-45 

2,394,.503 

389,000 

2,083,700 

98,420 

415 

5 

6} 

5.63 

3 

4f 

3.92 

1845-46 

2.100,.537 

422,600 

1,666,700 

107,122 

411 

7 

9} 

7.87 

4 

7 

4.80 

1846-47 

1,778,651 

428,000 

1,241,200 

214,837 

4.31 

13} 

11.21 

4} 

7} 

6.03 

1847-48 

2,439,786 

616,044 

1,8,58,000 

171,468 

417 

6 

13 

8.03 

3 

4} 

3,93 

1848-49 

2,866,9.38 

642,485 

2.228,000 

1,54,753 

436 

5i 

10} 

7., 55 

4 

6} 

4.09 

1849-.50 

2,333,718 

613,498 

1,590,200 

167.930 

429 

10  ■ 

13} 

12.. 34 

5} 

7} 

7,10 

1850-51 

2,4.54,442 

485,614 

1,988,710 

128,304 

416 

8if 

15 

12.14 

4} 

7} 

5.51 

1851-52 

3, 126, .310 

689,603 

2,443,646 

91,176 

428 

8i 

11} 

9,50 

4} 

5} 

5.05 

1852-53 

3,416.214 

803,725 

2,528,400 

1.35,643 

438 

11} 

11,02 

5} 

5.54 

1853-54 

3,074.979 

737,236 

2,319,148 

135,603 

430 

10 

11} 

10.97 

4‘J 

6 

5.31 

1854-55 

2,982,634 

706,417 

2,214,209 

143,336 

434 

Si  ■ 

13 

10.. 39 

4} 

6} 

5.60 

1855-56 

3.655,557 

777,739 

2,954,606 

64,171 

420 

9 

11} 

10.30 

5} 

6} 

6.22 

1856-57 

3,093,737 

819,936 

2,252,657 

49.258 

444 

15} 

13.51 

5} 

9} 

7.73 

1857-58 

3,257,339 

595,562 

2,.590,455 

102,926 

442 

15} 

12.23 

6{-} 

7} 

6.91 

1858-59 

4,018,914 

927,651 

3,021,403 

149,237 

447 

11 

13} 

12.08 

6 

7} 

6.68 

1859-60 

4,861,292 

978,043 

3,774,173 

227,708 

461 

10^ 

11} 

11 

5} 

7} 

5.97 

1860-61 

3,849,469 

843,740 

3,127,,568 

83.127 

477 

10 

22 

13.01 

6} 

11} 

8.50 

1861-62 

>4,500,000 

>370,000 

644,936 

No  data 

477 

20 

51} 

31.29 

12} 

29 

18,37 

1862-63 

>1,600,000 

>288,000 

10,898 

do 

47/ 

51 

92 

67.21 

20 

29} 

22.46 

1863-64 

>450,000 

>220.000 

27,0,53 

do 

477 

68 

189 

101 . 50 

21} 

31} 

27.17 

1864-65 

>300,000 

>34.5,000 

21,787 

do 

477 

35 

182 

83.38 

13 

26 

19.11 

1865-66 

2,269,316 

666,100 

1,554,664 

283,692 

441 

32i 

60 

43.20 

12 

20} 

15.30 

1866-67 

2,097,254 

770,030 

1,557,054 

80,296 

444 

26i 

42 

31., 59 

7} 

1,5} 

10.98 

1867-68 

2,519,.554 

906,636 

1,655,816 

37.398 

44o 

151 

32} 

24.85 

7} 

12} 

10.52 

1868-69 

2,366,467 

926,374 

1,465,880 

11,160 

444 

24} 

35 

29.01 

11 

13} 

12.12 

1869-70 

3,122,551 

865,160 

2,206,480 

65,325 

440 

19} 

35 

23.98 

8} 

11} 

9.80 

1870-71 

4,3,52,317 

1,110,196 

3,169,009 

144,290 

442 

14} 

21 

16.95 

7} 

9} 

8.55 

1871-72 

2,974,. 351 

1,237,330 

1,957,314 

59,287 

443 

18} 

26} 

20.48 

9}} 

11} 

10.78 

1872-73 

3,930,508 

1,201,127 

2,679,986 

104,782 

444 

19} 

22} 

18.15 

9 

10/if 

9.65 

1873-74 

4.170„388 

1,305,943 

2,840,981 

124,795 

444 

13} 

201 

17.00 

8 

9} 

8.36 

1874-75 

3,832,991 

1,193,005 

2,684,708 

74,411 

440 

14} 

17} 

15.00 

7 

8 

7.67 

1875-76 

4,632,313 

1,351,870 

3,234,244 

130.041 

444 

11} 

14} 

13.00 

o} 

7} 

6.67 

1876-77 

4,474,069 

1,428,013 

3,030,835 

130,493 

440 

10} 

13} 

11.73 

5} 

7* 

6. '29 

1877-78 

4,773,865 

1,489,022 

3,360,2,54 

45,784 

450 

10} 

12} 

11.28 

Ol6 

6} 

6.31 

1878-79 

5,074,155 

1,, 558,329 

3,481,004 

65,948 

447 

8} 

13} 

10.83 

4} 

7-A 

6.16 

1879-80 

5,761,252 

1,789,978 

9,885,003 

141,418 

4.54 

10} 

13} 

12.02 

6y}r 

7} 

6,94 

1880-81 

6,605,7.50 

1,938,937 

4,589,346 

218,043 

460 

10} 

13 

11.34 

Or 

6.48 

1881-82 

5,456,048 

1,964,535 

3,582,622 

124,232 

450 

11} 

13 

12,16 

6} 

7} 

6.70 

1882-83 

6,949.756 

2,073,096 

4,766,597 

237,117 

470 

10 

124 

10.63 

5} 

6}}- 

5.90 

1883-84 

5,713,200 

1,876,683 

3,916,581 

116,190 

462 

9 

10 

10.64 

5} 

6tV 

6.03 

1884-85 

.5.706,165 

1,753,125 

3,947,972 

132,421 

460 

8.7 

10.7 

10.54 

oA 

6} 

5.76 

1885-86 

6,575,691 

2,162,.544 

4,336,203 

178,026 

463 

9} 

10 

9.44 

4f;- 

5-1% 

5,14 

1886-87 

6.505,087 

2,111,532 

4,445,,302 

86.269 

464 

9} 

11} 

10.25 

5* 

6 

5.42 

1887-88 

7,046,833 

2.257,247 

4,627,502 

180,062 

467 

9} 

11 

10.27 

5} 

6 

5.51 

1888-89 

6,938,290 

2,314,091 

4,742,347 

6.5,624 

477 

9TJ 

11} 

10.71 

5} 

6} 

5.73 

1889-90 

7,311,322 

2,390,959 

4,906,627 

75,195 

478 

10} 

12} 

11., 53 

6U- 

5.97 

Prices  (middling  upland)  per  pound 


In  New  York 


In  Liverpool 


Estimated. 

- Port  stocks. 


KING  COTTON 


31 


Cotton  Crops  of  the  United  States,  1790-1908 — Con. 


Prices  (middling  upland)  per  pound 


Supply,  Consumption,  Exports  (Surp'.us  Stocks  and  Prices) 


In  New  York 


In  Liverpool 


Year 

Crops 

Consumption 

Exports 

Stocks  > 
(close  of 
year) 

Net 
weight 
of  bales 

Low- 

est 

High- 

est 

Aver- 

age 

Low- 

est 

High- 

est 

Aver- 

age 

Bales 

Bales 

Bales 

Bales 

Pounds 

Cents 

Pe 

nee 

1{!90-91 

8,652,597 

2,632,023 

5,783,101 

228,684 

473 

7H 

11 

9.03 

44 

5H 

4.94 

1891-92 

9,035,379 

2,876,846 

5,868.545 

416,536 

473 

6ii- 

814- 

7.64 

4-U 

4.18 

1892-93 

6,700,365 

2,431,134 

4,410,524 

243,271 

475 

7.^ 

10 

8.24 

5i 

4.57 

1893-94 

7,549,817 

2,319,688 

5,360,318 

183,737 

474 

64 

8rV 

7.67 

a 

4.23 

1894-95 

9,901,251 

2.946,677 

6,926,025 

280.063 

484 

5iV 

8sY 

6., 50 

3.41 

1895-96 

7,157,346 

2,504.972 

4.751,384 

222,678 

477 

7* 

94 

8.16 

4\"r 

4.24 

1896-97 

8,757,964 

2,847,351 

6.088.521 

77,015 

477 

7 

St 

7.72 

8'-^- 

4^ 

4.12 

1897-98 

11,199,994 

3,443,581 

7,674,065 

176,006 

482 

54 

7-M 

6.22 

a-Y 

4^ 

3.53 

1898-99 

11,274,840 

3,589,494 

7.452.116 

392,280 

489 

oA- 

64 

6.00 

3 

3.28 

1899-00 

9,436,416 

3,665,412 

6,055,874 

88,032 

479 

64 

101 

8.69 

3M 

6iV 

4.87 

1900-01 

10,383,422 

3,588,501 

6,639,931 

239,324 

485 

8 

12 

8.96 

74 

5.12 

1901-02 

10,680,680 

3,988,501 

6,71.5,793 

16.3,586 

483 

714 

9.1 

8.75 

41 

Si 

4.78 

1902-03 

10,727,559 

4,160,961 

6,765,953 

162,040 

483 

8.. 30 

13.. 50 

10.27 

4.40 

7.12 

5.46 

1903-04 

10,011,374 

.3,963,981 

6,109,7.55 

111,799 

48.3 

9,. 50 

16.65 

12.42 

5.68 

8.96 

6.94 

1904-05 

13,565,885 

4,445,650 

8.768,125 

322,592 

491 

6.85 

11. .50 

9.11 

3.63 

6.88 

4.93 

1905-06 

11,345,988 

4,723,703 

6,763,551 

198,178 

486 

9.80 

12.60 

11.29 

5.26 

6.42 

5.94 

1906-07 

13,510,982 

4,965,498 

8,487,788 

275,561 

490 

9.60 

13.55 

11.45 

5.31 

7.52 

6.35 

1907-08 

11,581,829 

4,369,883 

7,583,078 

182,',  8/ 

9.50 

13..55 

11.27 

5.16 

7.57 

6.16 

^ Port  stock?. 


32 


COTTON  PRODUCTION  IN  THE  U.  S. 


Review  of  Cotton  Production  Since  1790 

The  greatest  and  most  important  event  in  the  history  of 
cotton  in  this  country  was,  of  course,  the  invention  of  the  saw 
gin.  Without  this  labor  saving  machine  and  the  improvements 
since  made  upon  it,  the  increase  in  production  and  the  expansion 
of  every  branch  of  the  industry  would  have  been  slow,  while 
mankind  would  have  been  deprived  of  the  blessing  of  cheap 
clothing.  Of  scarcely  less  importance  was  the  introduction  and 
improvement  of  the  Mexican  variety  of  cotton  seed,  which,  by 
reason  of  its  freedom  from  disease,  larger  yield  and  greater 
quantity  that  could  be  picked,  also  cheapened  production. 

The  building  and  extension  of  railway  lines  in  the  Southern 
States  has  also  had  a far  reaching  effect  upon  the  cotton  industry. 
It  has  not  only  increased  production,  but  has  cheapened  the  cost 
of  raw  material  to  the  consumer,  and  .furnished  the  planter  a 
home  market  for  his  product.  It  is  largely  due  to  the  building  of 
railroads  in  the  Southwest  that  several  millions  of  bales  of 
cotton  have  been  added  to  the  crop ; it  is  due  to  the  railroads  that 
numerous  interior  markets  have  been  established,  where  the 
spinner  may  buy  directly  from  the  planter  and  ship  his  cotton  on 
a through  bill  of  lading,  even  to  European  points ; and,  it  is  due 
to  the  railroads  that  the  planter  in  almost  every  important  cotton 
producing  county  can  sell  his  crop  at  home,  instead  of  having 
to  pay  transportation  to  some  distant  market  and  commissions  for 
handling  and  selling. 

The  Civil  War  was  waged  at  a tremendous  cost  to  the  cotton 
planter.  As  a result  he  lost  practically  everything  but  his  land. 
He  had  to  begin  life  anew.  But  cotton  was  a precious  article  in 
the  markets  of  the  world,  had  sold  for  over  $1.00  a pound  in 
New  York  and  62^4  cents  in  Liverpool,  and  even  while  he  was 
devising  some  means  to  rehabilitate  his  plantation  it  was  worth 
40  cents  a pound  in  both  markets.  A cotton  crop  must  be  made, 
and  somehow  it  was  made,  the  product  of  1866  turning  out 
2,269,000  bales,  including  perhaps  a few  thousand  bales 
sequestered  during  the  war  period.  The  crop  was  just  about 
equivalent  to  that  of  1849,  but  it  was  worth  more  than  three  and 
a half  times  as  much  as  that  crop. 


KING  COTTON 


3.? 


The  effects  of  the  Civil  War,  so  far  as  production  was  con- 
cerned, was  felt  nntil  1878  when  the  first  crop  equal  to  the  largest 
under  the  slave  system  was  made.  But  with  all  the  evils  of  the 
war,  its  lamentable  carnage  and  destruction  of  property,  it  taught 
the  southern  planter  one  important  lesson : that  raising  cotton 
was  not  dependent  upon  negro  labor,  slave  or  free ; that  white 
labor  could  produce  more  cotton,  and  better  cotton  than  negro 
labor.  Not  only  so,  but  he  has  since  witnessed  that  white  labor  in 
the  cotton  fields  is  increasing,  proportionately,  more  rapidly  than 
negro  labor,  more  than  60  per  cent  of  the  crop  now  being  produced 
by  white  labor.  The  Civil  M’ar  discovered  to  the  world  another 
truth : that  with  all  the  efforts  put  forth  by  the  most  powerful  cot- 
ton association  in  Europe,  no  other  country  on  earth  could  compete 
with  the  American  planter  in  the  production  of  cotton,  a fact 
which  is  just  as  potent  now,  and  will  be  for  many  years  to  come,  as 
it  was  during  the  “famine"  period  of  1860-1865. Sir  Alfred 
Jones  at  a recent  meeting  of  the  British  Cotton  Growing  Associa- 
tion, by  way  of  encouragement,  made  the  statement  that  the  Eng- 
lish Government  was  building  an  800-mile  railway  in  Africa  in  a 
country  scarcely  touched  by  commerce ; that  there  were  ten  mil- 
lions of  people  there  ready  to  work  for  12  cents  a day,  and  that 
in  that  country  there  was  “an  enormous  future”  in  cotton  growing. 

The  method  of  collecting  information  and  statistics  regarding 
the  cotton  crop  has  been  greatly  improved  in  recent  years.  The 
first  attempt  at  collecting  commercial  statistics  began  as  far  back 
as  1826-27,  by  counting  the  receipts  at  the  ports.  After  the 
Civil  War  the  overland  movement  by  rail  to  Canada  and  northern 
mills  was  taken  into  account,  and  later  on,  the  domestic  con- 
sumption in  the  cotton  states.  The  comparative  movement  of 
the  crop,  from  week  to  week  and  month  to  month,  furnished 
some  evidence  of  the  size  of  the  crop,  but  this  was  unsatis- 
factory, as  the  approximate  out-turn  could  not  be  determined  until 
after  the  close  of  the  twelve  months  season  August  31st.  The 
government,  in  its  decennial  Census,  began  collecting  statistics  of 
production  in  1819,  but  it  was  not  until  1879  that  any  attempt  was 

1 The  British  Cotton  Gro'.vir:g  Association  which  operated  during  the  “ famir.a"  period 
was  revived  a few  years  ago.  Its  third  annual  report  shows  an  output  in  the  British  pro- 
vinces of  26,000  bales  of  cotton  (400  pounds  each),  most  of  which  was  grown  in  Africa.  In 
1O03  the  same  colonies  made  about  2,000  bales.  At  this  rate  of  increase  Great  Britain 
might  possibly,  by  the  end  of  the  year  i9.=;5,  become  independent  of  the  United  States  for 
its  cotton  supply. 

3 


34 


COTTON  PRODUCTION  IN  THE  U.  S. 


made  to  ascertain  the  acreage.  In  1899,  by  Act  of  Congress,  the 
Census  Bureai;  was  required  to  collect  and  make  public  the 
amount  of  cotton  ginned  to  stated  periods,  and  its  final  report 
issued  early  in  the  spring  furnishes  definite  information  as  to 
the  yield  of  the  crop  five  months  earlier  than  the  reports  of  the 
commercial  authorities.  One  of  the  many  good  results  of  this 
work  has  been  to  minimize  the  fluctuations  in  the  price  of  cotton 
during  the  period  the  planter  is  marketing  his  crop.  The  Con- 
gress in  1905  added  another  important  feature  to  the  work  of  the 
Census  Bureau,  in  requiring  the  collection  and  publication  of 
statistics  of  cotton  production,  consumption  of  cotton  in  the 
United  States,  the  surplus  held  by  manufacturers,  and  the  quan- 
tity exported. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  Congress  has  not  also  required 
the  Census  Bureau  to  collect  statistics  of  cotton  acreage,  if  not 
annually,  at  least  every  five  years.  As  it  is,  the  government  is 
dealing  with  actualities  as  to  production  and  guesswork  as  to 
acreage.  Its  acreage  estimates  are  sometimes  far  from  even 
approximate  correctness,  as  was  the  case  in  1905.  This  is  evi- 
denced by  a comparison  of  its  acreage  estimates  for  the  periods 
1879-1883  and  1902-1906,  with  that  of  production  in  those 
periods.  The  average  estimated  acreage  for  the  first  five-year 
period  was  15,567,000  acres,  and  that  for  the  second  28,670,000, 
an  increase  of  13,103,000  acres,  or  84.2  per  cent.  The  average 
production  of  the  first  period  (1879-1883)  was  6,096.000  bales, 
and  that  of  the  second  period  (1902-1906)  11,706,000,  an 
increase  of  5,610,000  bales,  or  92  per  cent.  In  other  words,  the 
increased  production  is  shown  to  be  7.8  per  cent,  greater  than 
the  increased  acreage,  which  is  manifestly  incorrect.  If  the 
acreage  of  1905  had  been  estimated  at,  approximately,  31,000,000 
instead  of  26,000,000  acres,  there  would  have  been  only  2 per 
cent,  difference  in  the  acreage  increase  and  the  production 
increase. 

Cotton  planting  like  every  other  industry  has  its  periods  of  • 
prosperity  and  adversity.  Until  1836,  with  few  exceptions,  the 
crops  had  yielded  very  profitable  returns.  Then  came  the  great 
financial  panic  of  1837.  The  cotton  mills  curtailed  consumption, 
while  the  planters  increased  the  crops.  The  inevitable  result  was 


KING  COTTON 


35 


an  accumulation  of  stocks  and  a fall  in  prices.  The  trade 
depression  continued  for  ten  or  twelve  years,  during  which  the 
price  of  cotton  reached  the  lowest  level  on  record.  About  1850 
there  was  a trade  revival,  and  until  the  Civil  War  both  planters 
and  manufacturers  prospered.  For  thirteen  years  after  the  war 
the  planters  realized  highly  remunerative  prices  for  their  cotton, 
because  the  supply  was  not  equal  to  the  demand.  But  just  as 
soon  as  the  crops  increased  to  the  point  of  fully  supplying  the 
demand,  prices  declined  to  a lower  level,  though  for  the  next  ten 
or  twelve  years  the  average  was  no  lower  than  in  the  prosperous 
period  of  1850-60.  In  18S0  the  crops  began  to  increase  beyond 
the  capacity  of  the  mills  for  consumption,  the  panic  of  1893 
occurred,  and  another  period  of  business  depression  set  in.  Sur- 
plus stocks  accumulated  and  prices  reached  almost  as  low  a 
level  as  in  the  period  1840-50.  A careful  examination  into  the 
cause  of  low  prices  will  show  that,  as  a general  thing,  it  is 
due  to  a superabundance  of  supply,  not  necessarily  when  the 
crops  are  the  largest,  but  only  when  consumption  for  one  cause 
or  another  has  fallen  much  below  the  supply.  For  example, 
within  the  past  few  years  the  demand  for  cotton  goods  has 
increased  so  rapidly  that  spinners  have  been  able  to  pay  fairly 
remuneratiA'e  prices  for  some  of  the  largest  crops  ever  produced. 
Peace  and  prosperity  cannot  always  prevail,  and  the  planter  like 
others  must  bear  his  share  of  “war,  pestilence,  and  famine.” 

The  great  increase  in  the  world’s  consumption  of  cotton 
within  the  past  twenty-five  years  is  one  of  the  most  notable  facts 
in  the  industrial  progress,  of  the  age.'^  But  the  most  significant 
feature  in  this  connection  is  the  phenomenal  increase  in  con- 
sumption in  the  cotton  growing  States.  Ahthin  this  period  it  has 
increased  from  331,000  bales  in  1882  to  2,487,000  in  1907,  or  650 
per  cent.  Of  the  total  crop  produced  in  the  former  year  4.7  per 
cent,  was  taken  for  domestic  consumption,  while  18.3  per  cent, 
was  taken  from  the  135^-million-bale  crop  of  the  latter  year. 
Within  the  same  period  the  total  consumption  in  the  United 
States  has  increased  from  2,104,000  bales  in  1882  to  4,965,000  in 
1907,  or  136  per  cent.  At  the  present  rate  of  increase,  within 

> ?.Ir.  J.  Hutton,  of  the  British  Cotton  Growing  Association,  estimates  that  the 
population  of  the  world  is  growing  to  the  extent  of  reiuiring  400,000  bales  of  cotton  more 
each  year. 


36 


COTTON  PRODUCTION  IN  THE  U.  S. 


another  quarter  of  a century  this  country  should  consume  about 

10.060.000  bales  of  cotton.  Meanwhile,  the  consumption  in  the 
cotton  States  will  go  on  increasing,  which  will  benefit  the  planter, 
not  only  in  giving  him  a home  market  for  his  cotton  but  for  other 
products  of  the  farm. 

It  is  estimated  that  of  the  world’s  population  of  1,500,000,000, 
about  500,000,000  regularly  wear  clothes,  about  750,000,000  are 
partially  clothed,  and  250,000,000  habitually  go  almost  naked, 
and  that  to  clothe  the  entire  population  of  the  world  would  require 

42.000. 000  bales  of  500  pounds  each.  It  therefore  seems  more 
than  likely  that  the  cotton  industry  will  go  on  expanding  until 
the  whole  of  the  inhabited  earth  is  clothed  with  the  products  of  its 
looms.  This  is  not  an  unreasonable  conclusion  when  we  consider 
the  fact  that  cotton  is  the  cheapest  material  for  clothing  known 
to  man.  In  the  meantime  it  may  come  to  pass  that  the  world’s, 
area  suitable  for  the  culture  of  cotton  may  have  to  be  seriously 
reckoned  with,  just  as  was  the  case  during  the  Civil  War. 

Where  are  the  spinners  of  the  world  to  look  for  an  increase 
in  the  supply  of  raw  cotton  ? 

In  answer  to  the  inquiry.  What  are  the  possibilities  of  cotton 
culture  in  Texas?  Governor  Sayres  said  in  a letter  to  the  author: 

I have  to  express  the  opinion  that  not  exceeding  one-third,  if 
so  much,  of  the  strictly  cotton  area  of  Texas  is  now  under  culti- 
vation, and  that  if  the  assurance  could  be  given  that  for  ten 
years  in  succession  the  price  of  cotton  at  the  gin  would  average 
8 cents  per  pound  the  annual  product  of  the  State  would  within 
the  time  reach  fully  10,000,000  bales.  This  is  not  an  exaggerated 
statement,  nor  is  it  based  upon  the  cultivation  of  cotton  exclusively 
in  such  area,  proper  allowance  being  made  for  the  diversification 
of  crops. 

Oklahoma  and  the  Indian  Territory,  before  their  consolida- 
tion and  organization  as  a State,  were  each  larger  in  area  than 
South  Carolina,’-  and  this  State  in  1897  and  1898  produced  over 

1.000. 000  bales  of  cotton.  Under  favorable  conditions,  therefore, 
the  State  of  Oklahoma  could  safely  be  counted  on  to  supply 

2.500.000  bales. 

The  Atlantic  States — Virginia,  the  Carolinas,  Georgia,  and 


1 The  land  surface  area  of  Oklahoma  was  38,830  square  miles,  that  of  Indian  Terri- 
tory 31,000,  and  that  of  South  Carolina  30,170. 


KING  COTTON 


37 


Florida — could  increase  their  yield  by  1,000,000  bales,  and  the 
Gulf  States,  exclusive  of  Texas  and  including  Arkansas,  Ten- 
nessee, and  iMissouri,  could  swell  their  production  1,500,000  bales. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  there  are  large  areas  suitable  for 
cotton  culture  in  Southern  California,  Arizona,  Nevada,  Utah, 
Kansas,  and  Kentucky.  So  that  if  the  time  should  come  when  the 
spinners  of  the  world  require,  say,  40,000,000  bales  of  cotton,  the 
United  States  should  be  able  to  supply  25,000,000,  or  over  60  per 
cent,  of  the  whole,  provided  always  that  there  was  a sufficiency  of 
labor  and  that  other  conditions  were  favorable. 

We  are  therefore  led  to  the  conclusion  that  for  many  years  to 
come  the  Southern  States  will  continue  to  hold  the  supremacy  as 
the  cotton  producers  of  the  best  and  cheapest  clothing  material 
in  the  world. 

What  is  the  cost  of  producing  a pound  of  cotton,  and  has 
the  cost  increased  or  decreased  in  recent  years?  These  questions 
are  often  asked,  but  not  satisfactorily  answered  because  it  is 
impossible  to  fix  upon  any  definite  cost.  So  much  depends  upon  the 
quality  of  the  soil,  the  cost  of  supplies  and  labor  and  the  efficiency 
of  the  labor,  the  character  of  the  seasons,  the  thrift  of  the  planter, 
and  the  fluctuations  of  the  market,  that  necessarily  the  cost  must 
vary  one  year  with  another.  Even  on  any  single  plantation  it 
will  vary  from  year  to  year.  But  to  maintain  that  there  has 
been  no  reduction  in  the  cost  of  raising  cotton  is  to  argue  that 
the  planter  has  made  no  progress  in  the  direction  of  economy, 
and  that  the  various  items  entering  into  its  cost  are  no  cheaper 
than  formerly,  neither  of  which  is  altogether  true.  Undoubtedly, 
the  intensive  system  of  cultivation  practiced  on  many  plantations, 
especially  in  the  older  cotton  States,  has  cheapened  the  cost  of 
production ; and,  it  is  a well  known  fact  that  farm  implements 
are  not  only  cheaper,  but  are  better  and  save  labor ; that  ferti- 
lizers, ginning,  bagging,  ties,  and  the  cost  of  marketing,  are 
all  much  cheaper  than  formerly.  On  the  other  hand,  the  cost 
of  rent  and  labor  vary  from  time  to  time,  according  to  existing 
economic  conditions,  both  being  largely  controlled  by  the  price 
of  cotton. 

The  Department  of  Agriculture  has  made  two  investigations 
into  the  cost  of  production,  one  in  1876  and  the  other  in  1896. 


3S  THE  FUNCTION  OF  COTTON  EXCHANGES 


The  results  of  these  investigations  show  that  the  cost  in  1876 
was  8.32  cents  and  in  1896,  5.27  cents  per  pound,  a reduction  of 
3.05  cents  per  pound,  or  36.7  per  cent,  within  the  period  of  twenty 
years.  It  may  be  possible  by  thrift  or  economy,  or  by  improved 
methods  of  cultivation  to  still  further  reduce  the  cost  of  pro- 
duction, but  it  will  not  amount  to  much  until  a machine  is  in- 
vented that  will  reduce  the  cost  of  gathering  the  crop.  Labor- 
saving  machines  for  cultivating  and  preparing  the  crop  for 
market  have  been  introduced,  but  cotton  is  still  picked  by  hand 
just  as  it  was  many  centuries  before  the  Christian  era. 

The  Function  of  Cotton  Exchanges 

The  establishment  of  Cotton  Exchanges  in  New  York,  New 
Orleans  and  other  southern  cities  during  the  period  1870-1880, 
as  already  stated,  worked  a revolution  in  the  cotton  trade. 

Some  of  the  results  accomplished  by  this  revolution,  or  more 
properly  evolution — for  the  Exchanges  are  but  the  natural  and 
necessary  outgrowth  of  existing  conditions  at  the  time  of  their 
origin — may  be  thus  enumerated : 

It  has  anticipated  the  future  needs  of  the  trade  by  a well 
regulated  system  of  selling  cotton  for  future  delivery : 

It  has  established  classes  or  grades  of  cotton,  each  having  a 
distinct  market  value : 

It  has  facilitated  transactions  between  producer  and  con- 
sumer, and  brought  them  into  closer  relationship ; 

It  has  practically  dispensed  with  the  old  style  expensive  custom 
of  consigning  and  selling  through  commission  houses : 

It  has  broadened  the  market  by  bringing  together  merchants 
from  all  parts  of  the  world : 

It  has  conduced  to  narrow  the  range  in  the  fluctuation  of 
prices : 

It  has  tended  toward  the  regulation  of  prices  at  home  rather 
than  abroad : 

It  has  facilitated  the  operation  of  the  law  of  supply  and 
demand. 

Speculation,  or  dealing  in  future  values,  is  not  of  recent  ori- 
gin ; it  is  as  old  as  barter  itself.  Nor  is  it  confined  to  cotton  and 


KING  COTTON 


39 


other  agricultural  products ; it  extends  to  every  branch  of  human 
industry.  But  people  will  speculate  in  cotton,  just  as  they  will 
speculate  in  real  estate  or  any  other  values.  The  fact  that  they  do 
speculate  through  the  medium  of  Cotton  Exchanges  is  not  a sound 
and  logical  reason  why  these  Exchanges  are  not  useful  and  neces- 
sary in  the  conduct  of  the  cotton  business. 

Cotton  Exchanges  were  not  established  to  encourage  specu- 
lation, but  to  facilitate  trading  in  cotton  upon  just  and  equitable 
principles.  Their  chief  function  is  to  afford  the  manufacturer, 
the  merchant,  and  the  planter  as  well,  the  opportunity  to 
purchase  a contract  or  ‘‘hedge”  not  necessarily  for  the  purpose 
of  receiving  or  delivering  the  actual  cotton  at  some  future  time, 
but  as  an  insurance  ag'ainst  possible  market  fluctuations  that 
might  result  in  loss.  The  manufacturer  who  has  an  order  from 
Shanghai,  for  instance,  for  the  future  delivery  of  goods  may  buy 
on  the  Exchange,  at  a definite  time  and  price,  a contract  for  the 
amount  of  cotton  required  to  fill  that  order ; the  Southern  mer- 
chant having,  say,  a thousand  bales  of  cotton  for  which  there 
is  no  immediate  demand  may  sell  on  the  Exchange  a contract 
for  that  amount,  and  safely  hold  on  to  his  cotton  until  there 
is  a market  for  it;  the  planter  whose  crop  is  not  yet  ready  for 
delivery,  seeing  the  market  contiirually  advancing,  may  sell  on 
■ the  Exchange  a contract  for  all  or  any  portion  of  his  crop.  In 
each  case  the  transaction  is  an  insurance  against  loss.  There  is 
no  speculation  in  it,  no  more  than  there  is  in  taking  out  a “policy” 
as  an  insurance  against  loss  by  fire.  It  is  the  very  acme  of  trad- 
ing, it  is  an  evolution  from  a crude  to  a scientific  method  of  mer- 
chandizing. 

The  classification,  or  grading  of  cotton,  each  of  the  grades 
having  a relative  value  to  the  accepted  standard  has  been  of 
great  benefit,  and  especially  to  the  planter.  It  has  acquainted 
him  with  the  true  value  of  his  product.  Before  the  Exchanges 
were  established  grades  were  fixed  by  custom,  they  were  fewer  in 
number,  and  the  planter  had  to  accept  such  grading  as  his  com- 
mission merchant  chose  to  give  his  staple.  Now  the  grading  is 
done  by  experts  of  the  Exchanges,  and  the  cotton  offered  stands 
upon,  and  sells  upon,  its  actual  merits.  The  grades  of  the 
various  Exchanges  may  differ,  according  to  the  general  character 


40  THE  FUNCTION  OF  COTTON  EXCHANGES 


of  the  local  receipts,  but  these  differences  are  all  based  upon 
middling  as  the  accepted  standard.  Thus,  each  locality  has  a 
definite  classification  for  the  cotton  it  receives. 

In  old  times,  before  business  was  done  through  the  Ex- 
changes, it  was  the  universal  custom  of  planters  to  ship  their 
crops  to  commission  merchants.  It  was  the  only  means  the 
planter  had  to  dispose  of  his  crop,  but  it  was  very  costly.  Now 
the  planter  is  no  longer  saddled  with  drayage,  freight,  insurance, 
commissions,  etc. ; the  buyer  goes  to  the  gin  house,  or  to  the 
country  town,  makes  a deal  with  the  planter  and  then  sells  a 
contract  on  the  Cotton  Exchange.  In  this  dealing,  of  course,  the 
middle  man  is  not  eliminated,  neither  is  drayage,  freight,  in- 
surance, commissions,  etc.,  but  they  are  no  longer  a charge  upon 
the  planter.  The  Cotton  Exchange  has  insured  the  buyer  against 
risk  or  loss,  and  that  is  the  end  of  it  so  far  as  the  planter  is 
concerned. 

Thus,  the  producer  and  consumer  are  brought  into  closer 
relations,  and  the  method  of  buying  and  selling  is  facilitated  and 
cheapened.  The  market  is  likewise  broadened,  because  these 
Exchanges  have  gathered  into  their  membership  the  leading 
merchants  of  the  world,  and  they  study  every  phase  of  the 
growing  crop,  every  condition  of  the  market,  every  demand  of 
the  producer  and  consumer,  and  are  ever  alert  to  buy  cotton  in 
any  market  offering'  the  best  advantage  because,  as  an  induce- 
ment, the  Exchange  stands  between  them  and  possible  loss. 
It  is  due  to  the  Cotton  Exchange  system  that  the  enormous  crops 
of  recent  years  have  been  disposed  of  so  quickly  and  financed  so 
successfully.  It  is  due  to  this  system  that  large  amounts  of  cotton 
can  be  bought  by  foreign  merchants  and  held  in  Liverpool, 
Bremen,  Havre  and  other  foreign  markets  as  surplus  stocks. 
There  is  always  a ready  sale  for  bills  drawn  against  such  cotton, 
because  the  banker  knows  that  their  prompt  payment  at  maturity 
is  insured  by  a sale  of  the  cotton  through  one  of  the  Exchanges. 
Under  the  old  system  not  one-third  as  much  surplus  cotton  was 
bought  on  foreign  account,  because  no  facilities  then  existed  for 
financing  such  enormous  values. 

Since  the  advent  of  the  Exchanges  dealers  in  cotton  are  more 
numerous  than  ever  before.  This  has  increased  competition  and 


KING  COTTON 


41 


imparted  greater  activity  to  trade,  and  hence,  prices  are  steadier 
and  fluctuations  less  violent,  all  of  which  is  a gain  to  both  pro- 
ducer and  consumer.  Go  back  to  the  times  when  it  was  simply  a 
deal  between  the  spinner  and  the  commission  merchant — the 
planter’s  agent.  Sometimes  the  fluctuation  in  one  year  would 
be  as  great  as  the  average  value  of  cotton  during  the  season. 
From  the  lowest  to  the  highest,  a fluctuation  of  six,  seven,  and 
eight  cents  a pound  in  one  season  was  not  uncommon.  One 
year  it  was  9,  another  12^  and  another  as  great  as  18  cents.  In 
only  one  year  since  1875  has  the  fluctuation  been  as  high  as  7 
cents,  and  that  was  in  1903  when  an  abnormally  short  crop 
caused  a cotton  famine  and  famine  prices.  Frequently  it  has 
been  less  than  2 cents,  and  repeatedly  ly?.  cents  and  below. 

It  cannot  be  denied  that  the  market  consuming  the  surplus 
commodity  of  any  country,  will  control  the  price  of  that  com- 
modity. And  hence  that,  Liverpool  being  the  market  for  all  of 
the  world’s  surplus  cotton  has  fixed  the  price  of  our  surplus,  and 
until  recent  years  had  established  prices  in  our  own  markets. 
But  we  are  now  consuming  at  home  nearly  five  million  bales  of 
cotton  and  the  more  we  consume  the  less  we  shall  be  controlled 
by  Liverpool  prices.  Before  the  Exchanges  were  established,  no 
sales  of  cotton  were  ever  made  except  on  the  basis  of  Liverpool 
quotations,  and  Liverpool  prices  were  never  influenced  by  those 
of  New  York  or  New  Orleans.  It  is  no  uncommon  thing  nowadays 
to  see  the  American  Exchanges  take  the  initiative  in  advancing 
prices  irrespective  of  Liverpool,  and  thus  give  a value  to  the  crop 
that  it  might  not  otherwise  have  attained.  It  has  not  interfered 
with,  but  rather  facilitated  the  operation  of  the  law  of  supply 
and  demand. 

The  whole  question  of  dealing  in  cotton  futures  was  ex- 
haustively investigated  when  the  Hatch  Anti-Option  bill  was  under 
discussion  in  the  52nd  and  53rd  Congresses  in  1892.  The  price 
of  cotton  was  ver}^  low,  lower  than  for  many  years,  and  it  was 
sought  to  discover  the  cause  of  it.  Some  of  the  ablest  politicians, 
merchants  and  planters  at  that  time  were  profoundly  impressed 
with  the  idea  that  the  underlying  cause  of  low  prices  must  be 
attributed  mainly  to  two  things ; the  “gambling”  in  futures,  and 
to  the  “demonetization  of  silver.”  A committee  of  the  Senate 


42  THE  FUNCTION  OF  COTTON  EXCHANGES 


was  appointed  to  investigate  the  subject,  its  Chairman  being  not 
only  a planter,  but  a jurist  of  great  ability.  The  committee 
traveled  through  the  South  and  took  the  testimony  of  many 
prominent  merchants  and  planters.  The  examination  was  ex- 
haustive, and  a report  was  submitted.  No  more  ingenious  or 
subtle  argument  was  ever  made  before  a court,  than  was  sub- 
mitted to  Congress  by  this  astute  jurist.  But  he  failed  to  impress 
Congress  with  the  wisdom  of  his  pleadings,  and  the  Anti-Option 
bill  failed. 

While  the  Senate  Committee  admitted  that  “the  obvious,  ap- 
parent, and  proximate  cause”  of  the  low  price  of  cotton  was 
“overproduction,”  it  stated  that  one  of  the  main  contributory 
causes  was  “the  enormous  extent  to  which  dealings  in  futures  had 
attained,”  and  “the  most  potent,  the  demonetization  of  silver.” 
Fifteen  years  have  elapsed  since  the  spacious  argument  was  made 
to  support  that  contention.  Time  has  answ'ered,  and  effectually 
settled  the  contention.  We  have  witnessed  less  violent  fluctua- 
tions, steadier  prices,  and  just  as  high  average  prices  for  the 
period  1870-1908  as  obtained  during  a like  period  before  the 
Civil  War,  when  there  were  no  Cotton  Exchanges  and  there  was 
free  coinage  of  silver.  We  are  just  now  passing  through  a 
period  of  high  and  remunerative  prices,  while  the  planter  is 
enjoying  unusual  prosperity,  with  dealings  in  futures  still  going 
on,  and  with  silver  still  demonetized. 

After  all  it  is  the  law  of  supply  and  demand  that  regulates 
the  price  of  cotton,  as  it  does  all  other  commodities  the  world 
over.  Neither  cotton  exchanges,  nor  planters’  associations,  nor 
the  withholding  of  cotton  from  the  market,  can  fix  prices.  Their 
action  may  have  a temporary  effect  upon  the  market,  but  not 
long.  Experience  teaches  us  that  material  reduction  in  acreage  as 
in  1895,  or  a serious  disaster  to  the  crop  as  in  1903,  will  advance 
prices,  but  there  is  no  evidence  in  history  that  cotton  exchanges, 
cotton  planters’  associations,  or  any  other  artificial  bodies  can, 
independent  of  demand,  lower  or  raise  prices  and  establish  values. 
The  great  law  of  supply  and  demand  is  the  arbiter  of  prices, 
and  will  prevail. 


CHAPTER  II 


ViRGixLi,  AND  Its  Cotton  Crops  prom  1800  to  1908— Number 
OF  Cotton  Mills  and  Spindles  and  Domestic  Consump- 
• TioN  OF  Cotton — Historical  Data  Rp;lating  to  Cotton 
Production. 

Although  cotton  culture  in  Virginia  has  always  been  con- 
ducted on  a comparatively  small  scale,  its  introduction  into  that 
State  deserves  more  than  a passing  notice.  It  was  on  Virginia 
soil,  and  immediately  after  the  settlement  of  the  Jamestown 
colony  (1607),  that  the  first  effort  to  produce  cotton  in  North 
America  was  made.^ 

In  a pamphlet  which  appeared  in  London  in  1609,  with  the 
title  “Nova  Britannica;  Offering  Most  Excellent  Fruits  of  Plant- 
ing in  Virginia,”  it  is  stated  that  cotton  would  grow  as  well  in 
that  province  as  in  Italy.  Another  London  pamphlet,  of  1620, 
says  that  cotton  among  other  “natural  commodities  may  also 
be  had  in  abundance  in  Virginia.”  A Mr.  Gookin,  who  settled 
at  Newport  News  in  1621,  “planted  cotton,  which  soon  grew  as 
large  in  girth  as  the  arm  of  a man,  and  as  tall  as  a man’s  figure.”^ 
It  was  partly  his  success,  and  partly  the  success  of  others,  that 
led  the  Governor  and  Gouncil  in  March  1622,  to  write  to  the 
Company  in  England  that  they  had  reason  to  indulge  great  hope 
as  to  the  culture  of  this  staple  in  the  colony.  “Not  only  had  the 
cotton  tree,  as  it  was  called,  of  the  West  Indies  been  transferred 
to  Virginia,  but  seeds  obtained  from  the  East  had  also  been 
planted,  and  they  had  sprung  up  and  flourished.”* * 

The  green-seed,  or  upland  variety,  according  to  Seabrook,* 
was  cultivated  in  Virginia  to  a limited  extent  one  hundred  and 
thirty  years  before  the  Revolution ; and  Beverly*  states  that  Sir 
Edmond  Andros,  who  became  Governor  in  1692,  “was  a great 

1 British  State  Papers,  Colonial  Vol.  I,  15,  I. 

- Works  of  Capt.  John  Smith- 

“ Abstract  of  proceedings  of  Virginia  Colony.  Vol.  I,  168. 

* Origin,  Cultivation  and  Uses  of  Cotton. 

“ Beverly’s  History  of  Virginia,  p.  90. 


4.3 


VIRGINIA 


41 

encourager  of  manufactures.  In  his  time  fulling  mills  were 
set  up  by  act  of  the  Assembly.  He  also  gave  particular  marks 
of  his  favor  toward  the  propagating  of  cotton.” 

The  household  manufacture  of  cotton  goods  began  very  early 
in  colonial  times,  and  long  before  cotton  became  an  article  of 
export.  Nearly  every  planter  manufactured  cotton  cloth  for 
home  consumption.  Examples  are  furnished  in  one  case  in  Vir- 
ginia, where  in  a community  of  twenty  families,  rich  and  poor 
alike,  it  was  ascertained  that  among  a total  of  301  persons  of 
both  colors,  there  were  made  of  fine  table  linen,  sheeting,  shirting, 
etc.,  1,907  yards ; of  negro  clothing,  blanketing,  etc.,  1,007  yards ; 
152  pairs  of  coarse  and  108  pairs  of  fine  stockings.  The  finer 
qualities  of  cloth  were  worth  60  cents  per  yard,  and  the  coarse 

42  cents;  and  the  total  value  of  their  industry  was  $16.70.  The 
highest  value  made  in  one  family  was  $267  and  the  lowest  $21.50. 
There  was  but  one  family  in  twenty  that  did  not  manufacture 
cotton  goods. 

Thomas  Jefferson,  in  his  Notes  on  Virginia  (1781)  says  that 
“during  this  time  we  have  manufactured  within  our  families,  the 
most  necessary  articles  of  clothing.  Those  of  cotton  will  bear 
some  comparison  with  the  same  kinds  manufactured  in  Europe.” 
The  state  of  affairs  during  the  Revolutionary  War  and  im- 
mediately after,  led  to  an  increase  in  the  home-making  of  cloths. 
The  yarn  was  spun  at  home  and  sent  to  the  nearest  weaver.  The 
cotton  for  spinning  was  prepared  in  general  by  the  field  hands, 
who  were  all  expected  to  pick  4 pounds  weekly  in  addition  to  their 
other  labors. 

In  1800  the  cotton  crop  of  the  State  was  15,000  bales,  and 
in  1805  it  increased  to  35,000.  The  largest  production  was  45,- 
000  bales  in  1825.  During  the  decade  1830-1840  it  ranged  from 
7,000  to  25,000  bales,  and  during  the  next  decade  it  dropped  as 
low  as  4,000  bales.  Even  in  1859,  when  the  crops  in  most  other 
States  were  to  date  the  largest  on  record,  that  of  Virginia 
amounted  to  less  than  13,000  bales. 

At  one  time  cotton  culture  was  carried  on  in  59'  counties,  27 
of  which  were  north  of  the  James  river  and  3 west  of  the  moun- 
tains. At  present  its  culture  is  confined  to  only  10  counties  in  the 
extreme  southeastern  portion  of  the  State. 


KING  COTTON 


45 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  Virginia,  1800-1809 


Year 

Total  Crop 

1800-01 

15,000 

1801-02 

21,930 

1802-03 

25.000 

1803-04 

23,000 

1804-05 

27.000 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1805-06 

35.000 

1806-07 

25.000 

1807-08 

22,000 

1808-09 

31,071 

1809-10 

30,000 

1809. — -At  this  date  there  was  one  cotton  mill  in  operation  in 
the  State. 

1815. — A Norfolk  merchant  received  a circular  signed  by 
Fawcett  and  Littledales,  Liverpool,  which  described  a new  cotton 
baling  press  composed  entirely  of  iron.  With  this  machine  and 
the  power  of  only  two  men,  a bak  of  cotton  of  300  pounds  might 
be  compressed  into  a tube  of  26  inches  or  an  oblong  form,  in  a 
very  short  time,  so  as  to  give  fully  as  high  a degree  of  pressure 
as  that  of  any  package  of  cotton  coming  from  the  United  States. 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  Virginia,  1810-1829 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1810-11 

20,000 

26,936 

28,000 

18,000 

25.000 

35.000 
43,165 

31.000 

30.000 

42.000 

1815-16 

29,600 

27.406 

30.000 

35.000 

32.000 

45.000 
42,227 

30.406 
33,016 
23,666 

1811-12 

1816-17 

1812-13 

1817-18 

1813-14 

1818-19 

1814-15 

1819-20  

1820-21 

1825-26  

1821-22 

1826-27 

1822-23 

1827-28 

1823-24 

1828-29  . ... 

1824-25 

1829-30  

1824. — Cotton  began  to  be  cultivated  in  considerable  quan- 
tities, says  Niles’  Register.  It  was  stated  that  some  planters  not 
far  from  Richmond,  appropriate  from  20  to  100  acres  of  land 
annually  to  the  growth  of  the  staple.  One  of  the  Richmond 
papers  said  its  cultivation  was  spreading  all  over  the  lower  por- 
tion of  the  State,  and  further  north  than  in  former  years.  A 
Yorktown  correspondent  said,  “we  have  lately  commenced  the 
cultivation  of  cotton  as  a staple  crop.”  Another  correspondent 
writing  from  Northampton  in  1827  said,  “Cotton  is  getting  to 
be  one  of  the  chief  staple  products,  and  one  of  my  neighbors 
in  1 826,  from  30  acres,  sold  $800  worth  of  cotton  at  11  cents  a 
pound.” 


46 


VIRGINIA 


1825.  — Theo.  Field,  of  Waqua,  Brunswick  county,  in  an  article 
on  the  "Cultivation  and  Preparation  of  Cotton  for  IMarket,"  says 
of  gins  then  in  use : “Carvers  gins,  manufactured  near  Boston, 
are  the  best  I have  ever  heard  of ; but  they  are  too  costly  for  our 
limited  crops  in  Virginia  and  Carolina.  A Mr.  Miles  of  North- 
ampton county,  N.  C.,  makes  most  excellent  gins,  but  his  manu- 
facture is  unequal  to  the  demand.  Mr.  Davidson,  of  Mecklen- 
burg county,  N.  C.,  manufactures  extensively  and  his  gins  are 
cheap — $2  per  saw.  The  only  difference  between  Miles’  and 
Davidson’s  gins  is  that  Miles’  has  a mote  box  in  the  rear  of  the 
ribs  and  they  are  made  in  better  style,  but  they  cost  $1  more  a 
saw  than  Davidson’s.  One  of  Davidson’s  50  saw  gins,  with  two 
horses,  will  pick  from  3,000  to  4,000  weight  per  day.  The  most 
common  practice  in  this  part  of  Virginia,  is  to  pack  the  cotton  in 
round  bags,  six  feet  long,  with  iron  or  wooden  pestles.  This  is 
a tedious  business,  as  a hand  will  not  pack  more  than  a bag  a 
day,  the  weight  of  which  is  generally  350  pounds.  Some  pack 
in  boxes,  called  sc[uare,  of  unequal  dimensions,  4 feet  long, 
breadth  and  depth  3 feet  by  18  inches ; others  press  it  into  these 
boxes  by  screws.  In  this  part  of  the  country,  we  are  much  at 
a loss  for  the  best  mode  of  packing,  etc.  I have  recently  heard 
of  a new  mode.  It  is  effected  by  a chain  of  great  substance  at- 
tached, one  end  to  a piece  of  timber,  say  14  inches  square  and 
18  feet  long,  lying  horizontally  upon  rollers ; the  other  end  to 
an  upright  windlass,  which  is  carried  around  lay  a 30-foot  sweep. 
As  this  turns  it  winds  up  the  chain  which  thrusts  the  end  of  the 
piece  of  timber  against  a block,  called  a follower,  and  thus 
forces  the  cotton  into  the  end  of  a box  which  lies  horizontally. 
The  box  is  4 feet  deep  and  18  inches  wide.  The  cotton  is  driven 
into  the  last  three  feet  of  the  box,  which  is  confined  by  clamps 
and  opens.  After  the  chain  is  wound  up,  the  clamps  are  removed 
and  the  bag  sewed  up,  which  finishes  the  business.  Two  hands 
will  pack  6 bags  a day.” 

The  largest  crop  in  the  history  of  the  State,  about  45,000  bales, 
was  produced  this  year. 

1826.  — An  item  in  the  Petersburg  Intelligencer  says  that  the 
cotton  shipped  from  Petersburg  for  the  twelve  months  ending 
Saturday,  September  29,  1827,  amounted  to  36,780  bales,  of 


KING  COTTON 


47 


which  16,094  bales  were  shipped  coastwise,  and  20,686  bales  to 
foreign  ports. 

1827. — As  illustrating  the  condition  of  manufactures  in  the 
South  at  this  time,  the  following  from  the  American  Farmer  is 
interesting:  “With  a small  machine  invented  in  Tennessee,  and 
employed  by  most  of  the  wealthy  planters,  a child  of  from  12  to 
14  years  of  age  can  gin,  card  and  spin  thread  sufficient  to  make 
8 or  10  yards  of  cloth  per  day.  This  machine  costs  about  half 
the.  price  of  the  girl;  with  a machine  which  would  not  cost 
double  that  sum,  she  might  spin  50  or  100  yards  per  day.  With 
the  miserable  machines  now  furnished  by  their  improvident 
owners  in  Maryland  and  Virginia,  they  cannot  spin  one  yard,  and 
therefore  go  half  naked  through  the  year.”  ’ 

During  this,  or  the  following  year,  subscriptions  were  made 
for  the  erection  of  the  first  Cotton  mill  in  Virginia  at  Peters- 
burg, where  ample  water-power  was  afforded  by  the  falls  of  the 
Appomatox. 

The  crop  of  this  year  was  estimated  at  45,516  bales.  It,  no 
doubt,  included  a portion  of  the  North  Carolina  crop. 

1829. — Niles  Register  says : “A  machine  has  been  contrived 
in  A'irginia  for  pressing  oil  from  cotton  seed,  which  is  becoming 
an  important  item  among  the  productions  of  the  Southern  States. 
It  is  estimated  that  there  is  an  annual  surplus  of  cotton  seed 
sufficient  to  yield  12,800,000  gallons,  worth  50  cents  a gallon, 
making  an  annual  value  of  $6,400,000.” 

The  first  practical  step  toward  the  manufacture  of  oil 
from  cotton  seed  was  made  by  Francis  Follett,  of  Petersburg,  to 
whom  belongs  the  distinction  of  having  constructed  the  first 
cotton  seed  oil  mill  in  the  world.  On  January  21,  1829,  he 
obtained  a patent  for  a “Machine  for  hulling  and  husking  cotton 
seed  and  separating  the  hulls  from  the  kernels.”  About  the  same 
time  Jabez  Smith,  of  the  same  city,  was  experimenting  with 
cotton  seed.  In  1826,  he  painted  his  house  with  an  oil  made 
from  cotton  seed.  He  had  a hulling  apparatus  attached  to  a 
cotton  gin  that  prepared  240  bushels  of  seed  a day.  Follett  and 
Smith  formed  a partnership  and  constructed  a mill  that  attracted 
considerable  attention. 


^ See  Tennessee  Notes,  1828,  pg.  256. 


48 


VIRGINIA 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  Virginia,  1830-1839 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1830-31 

22,597 

25,000 

20,533 

19,816 

17,114 

1835-36 

12,465 

9,539 

11.578 

7,400 

9,628 

1831-32 

1836-37 

1832-33 

1837-38 

1833-34 

1838-39 

1834-35 

1839-40 

1833. — The  Petersburg  R.  R.  (64  miles)  from  Petersburg  to 
Weldon  was  chartered  in  1830  and  opened  for  traffic  in  1833. 

1835.  — The  Petersburg  Intelligencer  estimated  the  exports  of 
cotton  from  Virginia  ports  to  foreign  ports,  for  the  twelve  months 
ended  Sept.  30,  1835,  at  19,897  bales,  and  the  amount  shipped 
coastwise  at  8,000  bales.  The  domestic  consumption  was  esti- 
mated at  5,400  bales. 

1836.  — Two  cotton  mills  were  erected  about  this  time  on  the 
Appomatox  river,  four  miles  from  Petersburg. 

A Surry  county  planter  urged  the  planters  of  South  Virginia 
to  abandon  cotton  culture.  He  said:  “I  am  well  satisfied  that 
one  great  cause  of  the  slow  improvement  of  the  farms  in  this 
vicinity  is  the  cultivation  of  cotton.  The  most  of  us  persist  itl 
cultivating  it,  although  we  have  been  warned  by  two  or  three 
successive  and  almost  entire  failures,  that  our  climate  is  by  no 
means  favorable  to  its  growth,  even  if  our  lands  were  rich 
enough.” 

1838.  — The  Richmond  & Petersburg  R.  R.  (22^  miles),  con- 
necting those  two  cities,  was  chartered  in  1836,  and  completed 
Sept.  17,  1838. 

1839.  — Cotton  was  produced  in  59  counties.  In  fact,  all  of 
the  counties  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge  and  south  of  the  Potomac 
raised  more  or  less  cotton,  except  Albemarle,  Fairfax,  Loudoun, 
Madison,  Patrick,  Prince  William,  Rappahannock  and  York. 
The  counties  of  largest  production  were,  in  the  order  named : 
Southampton,  Surry,  Greenville  and  Nansemond,  all  in  the 
extreme  southeastern  portion  of  the  State.  Of  the  59  cotton 
counties,  27,  or  nearly  one-half,  were  located  north  of  the  James 
river  and  three,  Lee,  Scott  and  Rockbridge,  west  of  the 
mountains.  At  this  time  there  were  22  cotton  mills  in  the  State 
operating  42,262  spindles. 


i 

K - ' 


•x  ‘ 


COTTON  J'lELD  SHOWING  SQUARES,  BLOOMS  AND  BOLLS. 
Photo  by  W*.  Moller,  Thomnsville,  (ia. 


KING  COTTON 


49 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Virginia,  1840-1849 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

N umber 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1840-41 

Bales 

6,097 

Bales 

No  data 

No  data 

No  data 

1841-42 

7,002 

do 

do 

do 

1842-43 

5,213 

do 

do 

do 

1843-44 

5,200 

do 

do 

do 

1844-45 

8,400 

do 

do 

do 

184.5-46 

5,812 

do 

do 

do 

1846-47 

4,664 

do 

do 

do 

1847-48 

5,905 

11,713 

do 

do 

184S-49 

5,850 

20,000 

do 

do 

1849-50 

3,947 

17,785 

27 

50,000 

1840. — There  were  284  miles  of  railway  in  operation. 

1842. — The  Richmond,  Fredericksburg  & Potomac  Railway, 
from  Richmond  to  Quantico  (80  miles)  was  chartered  in  1834, 
opened  to  Fredericksburg  in  1837  and  to  Quantico  September 
30,  1842. 

1844. — There  was  a reduction  in  the  cotton  yield  on  account 
of  drought.  The  decrease  in  some  sections  was  put  as  high  as 
30  per  cent.,  but  the  staple  produced  was  of  superior  quality. 

1846. — The  crop  was  badly  damaged  this  year  by  the  cater- 
pillar. 

1848.  — A cotton  factory  with  1,054  spindles  was  put  into 
operation  at  Fredericksburg. 

1849.  — Southampton,  according  to  the  Census,  showed  the 
largest  total  production  of  any  county  in  the  State,  869  bales. 

Frosts  about  the  middle  of  April  killed  the  early  cotton  plants. 

Cotton  was  grown  in  52  counties,.  24  of  which  were  north  of 
the  James  river. 


CoM.MERCi.vL  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Virginia,  1850-1859 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

Bales 

Bales 

1850-51 

3,924 

12.818 

No  data 

No  data 

1851-52 

4.998 

17,141 

do 

do 

1852-53 

5,461 

22,992 

do 

185.3-54 

4.916 

20,767 

do 

do 

1854-.5.5 

4,769 

19.042 

do 

do 

1855-56 

5,860 

19,382 

do 

do 

1856-57 

4,946 

19,722 

do 

1857-58 

5,208 

18,167 

do 

do 

S5S— 59 

9.495 

18,540 

do 

1859-60 

12,727 

16,400 

16 

49,440 

i 


50 


VIRGINIA 


1850.  — There  were  481  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this  year. 

1851.  — The  Seaboard  & Roanoke  R.  R.,  from  Portsmouth 
to  Weldon,  N.  C.  (80  miles),  was  chartered  in  1845  and  opened 
November  10. 

1856.  — The  Richmond  & Danville  R.  R.,  from  Richmond  to 
Danville  (140^  miles),  was  chartered  in  1847  and  opened  for 
traffic  May  15.  The  Piedmont  R.  R.,  from  Danville  to  Greens- 
boro (48  miles),  was  leased  by  this  line  about  1868.  It  is  now 
a part  of  the  Southern  Railway. 

1857.  — The  Norfolk  & Petersburg  R.  R.  (81  miles)  was 
completed  near  the  close  of  the  year.  The  South  Side  R.  R., 
from  Petersburg  to  Lynchburg  (123  miles),  was  completed  in 
November,  1854,  and  the  Virginia  & Tennessee  R.  R.,  from 
Lynchburg  to  Bristol  (204  miles),  in  the  spring  of  1857.  These 
three  lines  form  the  present  Norfolk  & Western  Railway,  recently 
acquired  by  the  Pennsylvania  Railway  system. 

1859. — The  Richmond,  York  River  & Chesapeake  R.  R., 
from  Richmond  to  West  Point  (41  miles),  began  building  in 
1855  and  was  opened  during  this  year. 

The  Census  returns  for  Essex  county  showed  the  highest  total 
production  of  any  county  in  the  State,  4,600  bales  of  400  pounds 
each. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Virginia,  1860-1869 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

Bales 

Bales 

1860-61 

9,094 

16,993 

No  data 

No  data 

1861-62 

No  data 

No  data 

do 

do 

1862-63 

do 

do 

do 

do 

186.3-64 

do 

do 

do 

do 

1864-6.6 

do 

do 

do 

do 

1865-66 

do 

6,333 

do 

do 

1866-67 

95 

15,000 

do 

do 

1867-68 

143 

20,000 

do 

do 

1868-69 

146 

20,000 

do 

do 

1869-70 

183 

9,671 

11 

77,116 

1860. — There  were  1,379  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this 
year. 

1862. — In  November  the  Confederate  Congress  passed  an  act 
requiring  all  military  commanders  in  the  service  of  the  govern- 
ment to  destroy  all  cotton  when  it  was  about  to  fall  into  the 


KING  COTTON 


51 


hands  of  the  Union  army.  During  the  same  month  a resolution 
was  introduced  and  passed  in  the  House  advising  the  planters 
to  abandon  the  cultivation  of  cotton  and  tobacco,  and  devote 
their  energies  to  raising  provisions,  cattle,  hogs  and  sheep. 

1861. — The  tax  on  cotton  collected  in  the  State  by  the  Federal 
Government  was  $1,126 ; in  1865,  $26,136 ; in  1866,  $168,268 ; in 
1867,  $299,118,  and  in  1868,  $330,579. 

1869. — Cotton  production  at  this  time  was  on  a very  small 
scale,  70  bales  in  Prince  George  county,  being  the  highest  total 
production  of  any  county  in  the  State. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Virginia,  1870-1879 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1870-71 

Bales 

2,439 

Bales 

10,647 

No  data 

No  data 

1871-72 

4.596 

14,040 

do 

do 

1872-73 

6,753 

15,233 

do 

do 

1873-74 

8.810 

11.496 

11 

56.490 

1874-75 

10,967 

11,985 

9 

54.624 

1875-76 

13,124 

8,174 

No  data 

No  data 

1876-77 

15,281 

7.747 

do 

do 

1877-78 

16,381 

9,211 

do 

do 

1878-79 

17,276 

11.346 

do 

do 

1879-80 

19,595 

11,461 

8 

44,340 

1870.  — There  were  1,186  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this 
year. 

1871.  — Professor  J.  W.  Mallet,  of  the  University  of  Virginia, 
after  three  successive  years  of  planting  sea-island  cotton  on 
upland,  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  this  variety  did  not  lose 
its  distinctive  characteristics ; the  fibre  retained  its  fineness  and  in 
great  measure  its  length,  but  on  account  of  short  seasons  the 
production  was  diminished.  Its  deterioration  on  uplands  he 
attributed  to  hybridization. 

1873.  — In  September  and  October,  the  cotton  worm  “did  the 
unheard  of  thing  of  appearing  in  the  cotton  fields  of  Virginia  in 
sufficient  numbers  to  do  a little  damage.” 

1874.  — The  Norfolk  and  Portsmouth  Cotton  Exchange  was 
organized  this  year  (July  11)  at  Norfolk. 

1879. — Southampton  produced  the  largest  crop  of  any  county 
in  the  State,  5,200  bales,  and  Greenville  the  highest  yield  per 
acre,  .48  of  a bale. 


52 


VIRGINIA 


The  largest  crop  of  cotton  reported  by  any  Census,  19,595 
bales,  was  produced  this  year.  The  area  devoted  to  the  crop 
was  45,040  acres. 


Co.uMERCiAL  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Virginia,  1880-1889 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Conscimption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1880-81 

Bales 

23.951 

Bales 

9,652 

No  data 

No  data 

1881-82 

17,000 

12,312 

do 

do 

1882-83 

24,000 

13,428 

do 

do 

1883-84 

17,300 

14,586 

do 

do 

1884-85 

13,500 

13,556 

do 

do 

1885-86 

14,821 

16,345 

do 

do 

1886-87 

13,913 

17,062 

11 

58,649 

1887-88 

16,134 

19,731 

11 

60,549 

1888-89 

13,852. 

21,037 

11 

71,125 

1889-90 

5,735 

22,731 

9 

94,294 

1880. — There  were  1,893  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this 
year. 

1882. — The  average  yield  of  cotton  per  acre  was  189  pounds 
of  lint,  and  the  farm  price,  December  1,  9.8  cents  per  pound. 

1887. — The  average  yield  of  cotton  per  acre  was  184  pounds 
of  lint,  and  the  average  price  per  pound  on  December  1,  8.6  cents. 

1889. — Of  all  the  other  counties  Brunswick  had  both  the 
largest  acreage  in  cotton  and  the  highest  total  production,  viz : 
11,391  acres,  and  1,282  bales. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Virginia,  1890-1899 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

Bales 

Bales 

1890-91 

7,226 

21,395 

12 

87,981 

1891-92 

13,984 

25,240 

12 

95,532 

1892-93 

9,393 

25,924 

10 

100.086 

1893-94 

12,000 

27.048 

9 

106,728 

1894-95 

13,414 

32,383 

10 

127,408 

1895-96 

7,964 

31,070 

12 

134,425 

1896-97 

11,539 

39,405 

15 

1.39,425 

1897-98 

12,878 

42,880 

15 

133,497 

1898-99 

13,990 

44,502 

17 

137,803 

1899-00 

9,239 

44,595 

15 

165,4.52 

1890. — The  Atlantic  & Danville  R.  R.,  now  the  Southern 
Railway,  was  chartered  in  1899,  and  completed  from  Danville  to 
Portsmouth,  February  15. 


KING  COTTON 


53 


1896. — The  average  cost  of  cotton  production  this  year  as 
ascertained  by  the  Department  of  Agriculture  was  5.40  cents 
per  pound. 

1899. — There  were  3,721^  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this 
year. 

Brunswick  produced  the  largest  cotton  crop  of  any  county 
in  the  State,  3,190  bales. 

There  were  88  cotton  gins  in  operation  this  year,  97  in  1900, 
and  96  in  1901.  The  average  output  of  each  gin  during  each 
season  was,  respectively,  105  and  122  and  146  bales. 

Of  the  118  counties  in  the  State,  24  produced  more  or  less 
cotton.  There  were  4,761  farmers  engaged  in  its  cultivation, 
and  from  25,724  acres  5,166,630  pounds  of  lint  were  produced, 
or  an  average  of  201  pounds  per  acre. 

The  counties  producing  the  largest  crops  were  Brunswick, 
Greenesville,  Southampton,  Mecklenburg  and  Sussex,  ranking  in 
the  order  named,  and  reporting  over  90  per  cent,  of  the  total 
production. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Virginia,  1900-1908 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1900-01 

Bales 

11,833 

Bales 

36.462 

15 

159,532 

1901-02 

14.009 

40,866 

16 

157,370 

1902-03 

16,575 

43,331 

17 

191.546 

1903-04 

13,681 

53,272 

19 

223,848 

1904-05 

17,216 

54,455 

19 

251,656 

1905-06 

15,666 

67,863 

17 

263,415 

1906-07 

14,590 

70,902 

16 

286,626 

1907-08 

9,602 

78,274 

16 

310,978 

CHAPTER  III 


North  Carolina,  and  its  Cotton  Crops  from  1800  to  1908 
— Number  of  Cotton  Miees  and  Spindees  and  Domestic 
Consumption  of  Cotton — Historicae  Data  Reeating 
TO  Cotton  Production. 

One  of  the  very  earliest  historical  records  of  cotton  in  the 
United  States  is  that  contained  in  a “Brief  Description  of  the 
Province  of  Carolina,”  etc.,  published  in  London  in  1666.  The 
author  of  the  pamphlet — his  name  is  not  given — tells  us  that 
“in  the  midst  of  this  fertile  province,  in  the  latitude  of  30  degrees, 
there  is  a colony  of  English  seated,  who  landed  there  on  the 
29th  of  May,  Anno  1664,  and  are  in  all  80Q  persons,  who  have 
overcome  all  the  difficulties  that  attend  the  first  attempts,  and 
have  cleared  the  way  for  those  that  come  after” ; that  they  brought 
with  them  most  of  the  kinds  of  seeds  and  roots  of  the  Barbadoes 
that  would  thrive  in  a temperate  climate,  and  “they  have  indigo, 
tobacco  very  good,  and  cotton  wool,  lime  trees,  orange,  lemon 
and  other  fruit  trees  which  thrive  exceedingly” ; also,  “they  have 
two  crops  of  Indian  corn  in  one  year,  apples,  pears  and  other 
English  fruits,  which  grow  there  out  of  the  planted  kernels.” 

Although  the  claims  as  to  the  advantages  of  Carolina  were 
extravagant  enough,  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt  that  these 
colonists  did  carry  with  them  some  of  the  cotton  seed  of  the 
Barbadoes  and  planted  them,  but  that  they  succeeded  satisfac- 
torily can  only  be  conjectured.  Thirty-four  years  later  (1700), 
another  historian  of  the  time  says  that  the  Carolina  colony  not 
only  made  an  abundance  of  provisions,  but  manufactured  their 
own  clothes,  the  “cotton  wool  and  flax  being  of  our  own 
growth.”  ^ 

Referring  to  the  French,  who  about  this  time  left  the  James 
river  in  Virginia  to  settle  on  the  Trent  nver  in  North  Carolina, 


History  of  North  Carolina,  Lawson. 


54 


KING  COTTON 


55 


Lawson  says : “The  women  are  the  most  industrious  sex  in  that 
place,  and  by  their  good  housewifery  make  a great  deal  of  cloth 
of  their  own  cotton,  wool  and  flax.” 

In  the  Westover  Manuscripts,  Captain  Byrd,  after  reaching 
Timothy  Ivy's  plantation  15  miles  from  Dismal  Swamp,  on  March 
15,  1728,  made  the  following  entry  in  his  diary;  “There  is  but 
little  wool  in  that  province,  though  cotton  grows  very  kindly, 
and,  so  far  south,  is  seldom  nipped  by  the  frost.” 

From  an  old  Custom  House  book  at  Wilmington,  it  appears 
that  in  July,  1768,  the  ship  “Amelia”  cleared  from  that  port 
with  an  assorted  cargo,  among  which  was  “three  bags  of  cotton.” 
It  is  more  than  probable  that  from  this  date  on,  excepting,  of 
course,  the  period  covered  by  the  Revolutionary  War,  a sufficient 
amount  of  cotton  for  home  consumption  was  grown,  and  that  for 
many  years  small  quantities  were  exported. 

From  1800  to  1837  the  total  production  of  the  State  varied 
from  about  20,000  to  100,000  bales,  and  the  largest  crop  prior 
to  the  Civil  War  amounted  to  only  145,000  bales.  The  first 
crop  after  the  war  was  103,000  bales,  which  was  but  a little 
less  than  that  of  1837.  Beginning  with  3870,  when  the  crop  to 
date  exceeded  that  of  any  other  year,  each  succeeding  decade 
showed  a substantial  increase  over  the  preceding  one.  This  was 
due  not  only  to  an  increase  of  acreage,  but  to  an  intensive  system 
of  culture. 

In  1879,  according  to  the  Census,  the  area  planted  in  cotton 
was  893,000  acres,  and  the  Agricultural  Department’s  estimate 
for  1904  was  1,307,000  acres,  an  increase  since  1879  of  414,000 
acres,  or  about  46  per  cent.  The  production  in  1879  was 

389.000  bales,  and  that  of  1904,  750,000  bales,  an  increase  of 

361.000  bales,  or  about  92  per  cent.,  the  increased  production 
being  46  per  cent,  greater  than  the  increased  area.  No  other 
State  better  illustrates  the  possibilities  of  the  intensive  system  in 
cotton  culture. 

1803. — A patent  for  a saw  gin  was  granted  to  G.  F.  Saltonstall. 

The  Moravians,  who  according  to  the  historian,  Williamson,^ 
were  remarkably  prudent  and  industrious,  made  considerable 
progress  in  the  manufacture  of  cotton,  and  “several  gentlemen  in 


History  of  North  Carolina. 


56 


NORTH  CAROLINA 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  North  Carolina,  1800-1819 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1800-01 

19.000 
17,544 

20.000 

19.000 

21.000 

26.400 

28,260 

25.248 

20,025 

27,015 

1805-06 

31.000 

24.000 

26.000 

35.000 
31,500 

28,576 

29.000 
27,004 

32.000 

30.000 

1801-02 

1806-07 

1802-03 

1807-08  . 

1803-04 

1808-09 

1804-05 

1809-10 

1810-11 

1815-16 

1811-12 

1816-17 

1812-13 

1817-18 

1813“14 

1818-19  

1814-15 

1819-20 

the  low  country,  where  they  work  under  great  disadvantages, 
introduced  machines  for  spinning  cotton.” 

1813. — The  price  of  cotton  for  the  years  named  was : — 1813, 
10  to  11  cents ; 1814,  15  to  16  cents ; 1815,  15  to  18  cents ; 1816, 
23  to  25  cents ; 1817,  23  to  25  cents ; 1818,  28  to  30  cents : 1819, 
123/2  to  16  cents ; 1820,  13  to  14  cents. 

1818. — The  first  cotton  factory  in  the  State  was  built  at  the 
Falls  of  Tar  river,  in  Edgecombe  county. 

Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  North  Carolina,  1820-1829 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1820-21 

35  000 

1825-26 

84.000 

1821-22 

35,971 

1826-27 

70,589 

1822-23 

38  506 

1827-28 

47,016 

1823-24 

46.000 

1828-29 

71,005 

1824-25 

65,000 

1829-30 

48,695 

1820. — John  Skinner,  a cotton  planter  of  Johnston  county, 
writing  to  the  American  Farmer  from  a section  he  alludes  to 
as  “the  outer  edge  of  that  portion  of  our  country  in  which  the 
cotton  plant  can  be  matured”  says,  of  the  early  production  of 
cotton  in  North  Carolina: — “It  has  been  but  a very  short  time 
since  it  was  discovered  that  cotton  could  be  cuidvated  to  any 
advantage  in  this  section  of  the  State.  The  cotton  now  grown 
competes  in  foreign  markets  with  any  upland  cottcn  exported 
from  North  America,  Louisiana  excepted.”  North  Carolina,  he 
asserts,  has  never  been  credited  with  one-tenth  of  her  actual 
surplus  sent  abroad.  Owing  to  poor  navigation,  her  cotton, 
tobacco  and  flour  have  gone  to  Virginia  and  South  Carolina,  and 


KING  COTTON 


57 


have  helped  in  no  inconsiderable  manner  to  swell  the  amount  of 
their  exports. 

1821.  — The  price  of  cotton  in  North  Carolina  was  as  follows 
for  the  years  named : — 1821,  10  to  13  cents ; 1822,  12  to  1334 
cents ; 1823,  6 to  834  cents : 1824,  1234  to  13  cents ; 1825,  22 
to  24  cents ; 1826,  8 to  10  cents ; 1827,  7 to  834  cents ; 1828,  8 to 
934  cents ; 1829,  8 to  9 cents ; 1830,  8 to  934  cents. 

1822.  — The  second  cotton  factory  in  the  State  was  built  near 
Lincolnton  on  the  Catawba  river. 

1823.  — Professor  Olmstead,  of  the  University  of  North  Caro- 
lina, ascertained  that  a fine  illuminating  oil  may  be  obtained 
from  cotton  seed. 

1824.  — Niles  Register  says  that  the  cultivation  of  cotton  was 
found  to  succeed  so  well  in  the  northern  part  of  North  Carolina, 
and  the  southern  part  of  Virginia,  that  the  planting  of  cotton 
greatly  increased  in  those  districts.  Fields  that  in  the  previous 
year  (1823)  were  in  corn  were  put  in  cotton,  and  the  culture  of 
cotton  had  extended  much  farther  north. 

1825.  — Owing  to  the  extraordinary  rise  in  the  price  of  cotton 
many  fields,  already  planted  with  corn,  were  ploughed  up  and 
replanted  in  cotton. 

1827. — Great  damage  was  done  by  an  invasion  of  the  cater- 
pillar. 

In  a “Report  on  the  Establishment  of  Cotton  and  Woolen 
Manufactures,  and  on  the  Growing  of  Wool,”  by  Charles  Fisher 
of  Rowan  county,  is  the  statement  that  North  Carolina  during 
good  crop  years,  shipped  to  the  North  and  to  Europe,  through 
her  own  ports  and  those  of  her  sister  states,  at  least  80,000  bales 
of  cotton  annually. 

Some  old  records  in  the  possession  of  the  descendants 
of  Henry  Humphrey,  Esq.,  of  Greensboro,  show  that  in  March 
of  this  year,  he  bought  cotton  in  Fayetteville  for  the  use  of 
his  mill,  for  which  he  paid  834  to  8.61  cents  per  pound. 

The  exports  from  Wilmington  and  other  ports  in  the  State 
amounted  to  70,387  bales. 

1831. — The  price  of  cotton  for  the  years  named  was  as 
follows; — 1831,  5 to  734  cents;  1832,  8 to  9^4  cents;  1833,  9 to 
10%  cents ; 1834,  11  to  1234  cents ; 1835,  15  to  17  cents ; 1836, 


58 


NORTH  CAROLINA 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  North  Carolina,  1830-1839 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1830-31 

47,838 

40,958 

50,811 

48,129 

50,456 

18.35-36 

56,886 

63,604 

114.414 

81,048 

143.034 

1831-32 

1836-37 

1832-33 

1837-38 

1833-34 

1838-39 

1834-35 

1839-40 

14  to  16  cents;  1837,  6 to  8 cents;  1838,  6 to  8 cents;  1839,  13 
to  14  cents ; 1840,  5 to  8 cents. 

1833. — The  Petersburg  Railroad,  now  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line, 
from  Weldon  to  Petersburg  (64  miles)  was  opened  for  traffic 
this  year.  A branch  line  was  also  built  to  Gaston. 

A cotton  seed  oil  mill,  located  near  Raleigh,  is  said  to  have 
been  in  operation  about  this  time. 

1836.  — The  first  cotton  factory  at  Fayetteville,  with  1,000 
spindles,  was  put  in  operation  July  4. 

1837.  — According  to  the  Salem  Chronicle  there  were  four 
cotton  mills  in  the  State,  located  at  Greensborough,  Mocksville, 
Haw  River,  and  Cane  Creek. 

For  the  first  time  the  crop  exceeded  100,000  bales. 

1838.  — The  following  cotton  mills  were  in  operation : — 1. 
At  the  falls  of  Tar  river  (Edgecombe  county)  the  oldest  in  the 
State,  built  by  a company.  2.  Near  Lincolnton,  Lincoln  county, 
built  by  a company.  3.  One  at  Fayetteville — owned  by  Mr. 
Mallet.  4.  One  at  Fayetteville — owned  by  Blackwell  and  others. 
5.  One  at  Greensboro  (steam  power) — owned  by  Mr.  Humph- 
reys. 6.  One  at  Witten  (incorporated  company).  7.  One  at 
Mocksville,-  Davie  county — Thos.  McNeely.  8.  One  or  two 
perhaps  in  Orange  county  owned  by  a company.  9.  One  in 
Randolph  county — owned  by  a company.  11.  One  at  Lexington, 
Davidson  county,  steam  power — owned  by  a company.  Seven 
new  mills  were  reported  building. 

The  Raleigh  & Gaston  Railroad,  now  the  Seaboard  Air  Line, 
from  Raleigh  to  Weldon  (97  miles),  was  chartered  in  1836  and 
opened  between  Raleigh  and  Gaston  during  this  year.  It  was 
extended  to  Weldon  in  1852. 

1839.  — Of  the  68  counties  reported  as  producing  cotton,  seven 
were  located  in  the  mountain  regions,  and  one  (Rowan)  just 


KING  COTTON 


59 


east  of  the  mountains.  The  counties  of  largest  production,  in 
the  order  named,  were : Anson,  Northampton,  Cabarras,  Halifax 
and  Edgecombe. 

At  this  time  there  were,  according  to  the  Census,  25  cotton 
mills  in  the  State  operating  47,934  spindles. 


Co.M.MERCIAL  CrOPS  AND  CONSUMPTION  OF  CoTTON  IN 

North  Carolina,  1840-1849 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1840-41 

Bales 

84.472 

Bales 

No  data 

No  data 

No  data 

1841-42 

87.405 

do 

do 

do 

1842-43 

107,504 

do 

do 

do 

1843-44 

123.786 

do 

do 

do 

1844-45 

144.581 

do 

do 

do 

1845-46  

96,386 

do 

do 

do 

1846-47 

64,256 

do 

do 

do 

1847-48 

100,719 

15.500 

do 

do 

1848-49 

86,924 

20,000 

do 

do 

1849-50 

73,845 

13,617 

28 

40,000 

1840. — The  Wilmington  & Weldon  Railroad,  now  the 
Atlantic  Coast  Line,  from  Wilmington  to  Weldon  (163  miles) 
was  opened  to  traffic  March  7.  The  Tarboro  branch  was  opened 
August  1869  and  the  Scotland  Neck  branch  October  1,  1872. 

There  were  91^2  miles  of  railway  in  operation. 

1843. — There  were  six  cotton  factories  in  operation  in  Fay- 
etteville, which  were  built  at  a cost  of  about  $347,000.  Three 
of  these  manufactured  stout  brown  sheetings,  the  fourth,  osna- 
burgs  weighing  % pound  to  the  yard,  and  the  other  two  yarns 
only.  The  sheetings,  shirtings  and  bagging  manufactured 
acquired  a reputation  second  to  none  in  the  country.  In  all  there 
were  25  cotton  mills  in  the  State,  in  which  was  invested 
$1,050,000. 

1845.  — A severe  drought  injured  the  crops  in  some  parts  of 
the  State.  In  the  southern  central  section,  bordering  South 
Carolina,  the  yield  was  estimated  at  one-fourth  less  on  account 
of  the  drought. 

1846.  — This  year  only  6,061  bales  of  cotton  were  exported 
from  Wilmington.  Accounting  for  the  decline,  from  about 
113,000  bales  formerly  received  at  this  port,  J.  D.  Cameron,  in  the 
“Hand-Book  of  North  Carolina,”  says : “This  was  not  because 
of  the  decrease  in  production  in  North  Carolina,  but  because 


60 


NORTH  CAROLINA 


new  avenues  of  transportation  had  been  provided.  The  construc- 
tion of  certain  railroads  had  borne  to  Charleston  much  of  what 
had  been  formerly  taken  to  Wilmington,  and  other  roads  had 
created  overland  transportation  by  which  much  of  North  Caro- 
lina cotton  was  taken  direct  to  northern  ports  or  those  of 
Virginia. 

The  crop  was  seriously  damaged  by  the  caterpillar. 

1849.— Frosts  during  the  middle  of  April  destroyed  many  of 
the  young  cotton  plants. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
North  Carolina,  1850-1859 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

Bales 

Bales 

1850-51 

73,407 

13,000 

30 

No  data 

1851-52 

93,501 

15,000 

No  data 

do 

1852-5.3 

102,171 

20,000 

do 

do 

1853-54 

81,966 

18,269 

do 

do 

1854-55 

89,204 

14,918 

do 

do 

1855-56 

98,629 

15,184 

do 

do 

1856-57 

92,527 

15,017  . 

do 

do 

1857-58 

97,422 

12,911 

do 

do 

1858-59 

103,558 

12,261 

do 

do 

1859-60 

145,514 

12,045 

39 

41,884 

1850.  — There  were  excessive  rains  until  June  3,  in  some  parts 
of  the  State,  and  though  planting  was  several  weeks  late,  this 
was  offset  by  a late  frost  which  did  not  occur  until  November  17. 

There  were  283  miles  of  railway  in  operation. 

1851.  — The  Seaboard  & Roanoke  Railroad,  from  Ports- 
mouth to  Weldon  (80  miles),  was  chartered  in  1845  and  opened 
November  10. 

1853.  — A severe  frost  on  October  18,  cut  off  the  cotton  yield 
in  some  parts  of  the  State. 

DeBow  estimated  that  20,000  bales  of  cotton  were  consumed 
in  the  mills  of  the  State,  and  about  the  same  number  in  1854. 

1854.  — Joshua  Harris,  of  Cabarras  county,  reported  the 
yield  of  his  crop  at  1,000  pounds  of  seed  cotton,  or  250  pounds 
of  lint  to  the  acre,  which  he  said  was  about  an  average  crop. 

The  Wilmington,  Columbia  & Augusta  Railroad,  now  the 
Atlantic  Coast  Line,  from  Wilmington  to  Columbia,  S.  C.  (192 
miles),  was  completed  from  Wilmington  to  Kingsville,  S.  C., 
during  this  year,  and  extended  to  Columbia  in  1872. 


A SQUAD  OF  NEGROES  PICKING  COTTON. 
Courtesy  of  Wolff-Goldman  Mercantile  Co.,  Newport,  Ark. 


KING  COTTON 


61 


1856. — The  North  Carolina  Railroad,  now  the  Southern  Rail- 
way, from  Charlotte  to  Goldsboro  (223  miles),  was  chartered  in 
1849.  Construction  began  in  1851  and  the  line  was  completed 
on  January  30. 

1858.  — The  Atlantic  & North  Carolina  Railroad,  from 
Goldsboro  to  Morehead  City  (95  miles),  was  chartered  in  1853 
and  opened  June  7,  this  year. 

1859.  — Edgecombe  county  made  19,138  bales,  the  largest 
yield  of  any  county  in  the  State. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
North  Carolina,  1860-1869 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1860-61 

Bales 

103,981 

Bales 

13,644 

No  data 

No  data 

1861-62 

No  data 

No  data 

do 

do 

1862-63 

do 

do 

do 

do 

1863-64 

do 

do 

do 

do 

1864-6-5 

do 

do 

do 

do 

1865-66 

do 

do 

do 

do 

1866-67 

103,499 

7205 

do 

do 

1867-68 

154,941 

8,122 

do 

do 

1868-69 

144.057 

7,860 

do 

do 

1869-70 

144,935 

9,632 

33 

39,897 

1860. — There  were  937  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this  year. 

1863. — The  Piedmont  Railway,  now  the  Southern  Railway, 
from  Greensboro  to  Danville  (48  miles),  was  built  by  the  Con- 
federate Government  some  time  during  the  Civil  War,  and  in 
1868  the  Richmond  & Danville  Railroad  acquired  most  of  the 
stock  and  a lease,  making  it  a part  of  their  main  line. 

The  Atlantic,  Tennessee  & Ohio  Railroad,  from  Charlotte 
to  Statesville  (47  miles),  was  completed  in  this  year,  but  was  dis- 
mantled the  same  year  for  the  use  of  other  military  lines.  It 
was  reopened  June  22,  1871.  It  is  now  a part  of  the  Southern 
Railway  system. 

1866. — The  tax  on  cotton  collected  by  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment this  year  was  $211,659;  in  1867,  $860,705,  and  in  1868, 
$887,342. 

1869. — There  were  33  cotton  mills  with  39,897  spindles  in 
operation. 

Edgecombe  county  again  produced  the  largest  crop,  18,361 
bales. 


62 


NORTH  CAROLINA 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Nortfi  Carolina,  1S70-1S79 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1870-71 

Bales 

27.5.000 

Bales! 

10.556 

No  data 

No  data 

1871-72 

175,000 

14.920 

do 

do 

1872-73 

200,000 

12,291 

do 

do 

1873-74 

265,000 

14.726 

30 

.55,498 

1874-7.1 

273,000 

14,428 

31 

54,500 

1875-76 

260,000 

19,.564 

No  data 

No  data 

1876-77 

210,000 

18,542 

do 

do 

1877-78 

370.000 

22,046 

do 

do 

1878-79 

221,766 

27,156 

do 

do 

1879-80 

389,598 

27,642 

49 

100,209 

1870. — There  were  1,178  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this 
year. 

1872.  — The  crop  was  considerably  damaged  by  the  caterpillar. 

1873.  — The  prevalence  of  the  caterpillar  was  said  to  have 
been  “utterly  beyond  all  precedent,”  and  in  some  counties  great 
damage  was  reported. 

The  Wilmington  Produce  Exchange  was  organized  in  April. 

1875.  — A cotton  planters’  convention  was  held  in  Raleigh. 
Col.  D.  E.  Butler,  its  president,  in  stating  the  object  of  the 
convention,  said,  that  the  system  of  mortgaging  crops  before 
they  were  made  had  well  nigh  bankrupted  Georgia,  and  that  the 
legislature  refused  to  re-enact  the  law.  Starvation  seemed  to 
stare  people  in  the  face  on  account  of  this  refusal,  but  they  had 
gotten  along  somehow,  their  prospects  for  a full  crop  were  never 
better,  and  people  would  be  more  prosperous  and  independent 
hereafter,  the  mortgaging  system  having  been  abolished.  Reso- 
lutions were  adopted  urging  Southern  State  Legislatures  to 
establish  Bureaus  of  Agriculture,  and  urging  the  importance  of 
planters  producing  an  abundance  for  their  own  use  of  articles 
of  prime  necessity,  etc. 

The  Carolina  Central  Railway,  now  the  Seaboard  Air  Line, 
chartered  in  1855  as  the  Wilmington,  Charlotte  & Ruther ford- 
ton  Railroad,  from  Wilmington  to  Shelby  (242  miles),  was 
completed  September  22. 

1876.  — Machael  Edgerton,  of  Wayne  county,  on  five  acres, 
average  low  ground,  pine-wood  land,  surface  dark  loam,  with 
clay  sub-soil,  raised  15,100  pounds  of  seed  cotton ; 400  pounds 


KING  COTTON 


63 


of  guano  and  75  loads  of  barn  yard  manure,  were  applied  to 
the  land. 

The  largest  yield  reported  was  20  bales  on  25  acres,  in 
Columbus  county. 

1877. — The  Raleigh  & Augusta  Air  Line,  now  the  Seaboard 
Air  Line,  from  Raleigh  to  Hamlet  (99  miles),  was  chartered  as 
the  Chatham  Railroad  in  1851,  but  not  completed  until 
October  26. 

1879. — Wake  county  made  the  largest  crop,  30,115  bales; 
and  Brunswick  the  highest  yield  per  acre,  .63  of  a bale. 

A Cotton  and  Grocers’  Exchange  was  organized  at  Raleigh. 


CoMMERci.^L  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
North  Carolina,  1880-1889 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

m b ‘ 

Spindles 

1880-81 

Bales 

410.520 

Bales 

38.790 

No  data 

No  data 

1881-82 

435,000 

49,478 

do 

do 

1882-83 

463.000 

53,961 

do 

do 

1883-84 

398,000 

58,616 

do 

do 

1884-85 

404.100 

54,478 

do 

do 

1885-86 

407,230 

65,684 

do 

do 

1886-87 

365,762 

68,627 

75 

206,172 

1887-88 

443,581 

80,485 

81 

240.081 

1888-89 

364,576 

100,733 

93 

288,706 

1889-90 

336.261 

114,371 

91 

337,786 

1880. — There  were  1,486  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this 
year. 

1882.  — The  average  production  per  acre  in  the  State  was  194 
pounds  of  lint,  and  the  farm  price  of  cotton  on  December  1, 
9.8  cents  per  pound. 

The  Western  North  Carolina  Railroad,  now  the  Southern 
Railway,  from  Salisbury  to  Paint  Rock  (189  miles),  was  char- 
tered in  1855,  opened  to  Old  Fort  in  1869,  to  Swannanoa  in 
1879,  to  Asheville  Junction  in  1880  and  to  Paint  Rock,  Tennessee, 
January  22. 

1883.  — A machine,  having  a transverse  series  of  forward  and 
upward  rotating  picking-discs,  and  peripheral  lifting  teeth  and 
laterally-projecting  prongs  or  teeth  studding  the  sides  thereof, 
was  designed  by  C.  C.  Price,  Jr.,  of  Elizabeth  City,  for  picking 
cotton  and  for  which  he  obtained  a patent. 


64 


NORTH  CAROLINA 


The  Albemarle  & Raleigh  Railroad,  now  the  Atlantic  Coast 
Line,  from  Tarboro  to  Williamston  (33  miles),  was  opened  this 
year. 

1885.  — Drought  in  August  injured  the  cotton  crop. 

1886.  — The  Asheville  & Spartanburg  Railroad,  now  the 
Southern  Railway,  was  chartered  in  1868  and  completed  July  13. 

1888. — The  Seaboard  Air  Line  was  extended  this  year  from 
Monroe,  to  Atlanta,  Ga.,  268  miles. 

1889.  — Mecklenburg  produced  22,709  bales  of  cotton,  the 
largest  yield  of  any  county  in  the  State. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
North  Carolina,  1890-1899 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1890-91 

Bales 

588,000 

Bales 

140.817 

105 

418,900 

1891-92 

480,000 

161,052 

112 

475,733 

1892-93 

367,000 

182,647 

125 

543.809 

1893-94 

400,000 

176,179 

131 

538,4,86 

1894-95 

479,441 

221,264 

135 

612,503 

189.5-96 

397,752 

219,822 

1.33 

773,0.30 

1896-97 

521,795 

245,177 

1.52 

.884,678 

1897-98 

646,726 

334,873 

161 

919,227 

1898-99 

629,620 

374,891 

169 

1.003,268 

1899-00 

473,155 

442,508 

190 

1,264,509 

1890.  — The  crop  this  year  for  the  first  time  exceeded  500,000 
bales. 

Mr.  Buffaloe,  living  near  Raleigh,  according  to  the  Hand 
Book  of  North  Carolina,  made  in  1890  with  three  ploughs  100 
bales  of  cotton,  an  average  of  a bale  and  a half  to  the  acre,  and 
had  not  made  less  than  twenty  bales  to  the  horse  in  many  years ; 
and  there  were  also  in  Wake  and  other  counties  many  farmers 
who  made  from  20  to  25  bales  per  horse. 

The  Cape  Fear  & Yadkin  Valley  Railroad,  now  the  Southern 
Railway,  from  Sanford  to  Mt.  Airy,  and  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line, 
from  Sanford  to  Wilmington,  extending  from  Wilmington  to 
Mt.  Airy  (245  miles),  was  constructed  as  follows:  From  Greens- 
boro to  Mt.  Airv  in  1884,  from  Greensboro  to  Fayetteville  in 
1884,  and  from  Fayetteville  to  Wilmington  in  1890. 

There  were  3,128  miles  of  railway  in  operation. 

1891.  — The  superiority  of  the  cotton  in  some  of  the  counties 


KING  COTTON 


65 


of  the  State  was  recognized  three-quarters  of  a century  ago, 
says  J.  D.  Cameron,  in  the  Hand-Book  of  North  Carolina, 
especially  in  Anson  and  Orange  counties,  and  “Anson  creams” 
are  still  in  large  demand  in  the  Liverpool  market  at  advanced 
prices. 

1892.  — There  were  125  cotton  mills  in  operation  with  9,128 
looms  and  543,809  spindles,  that  consumed  182,647  bales  of 
cotton. 

There  were  14  cotton-seed-oil  mills  in  the  State  with  a capacity 
for  consuming  20  tons  of  seed  per  day. 

1893.  — In  answer  to  some  inquiries  of  the  United  States 
Senate  Committee  on  Agriculture,  R.  W.  Wharton  of  Washing- 
ton, Beaufort  county,  stated  that  the  average  production  of  lint 
cotton  in  the  eastern  counties  of  the  State  was  200  pounds  per 
acre ; that  the  cost  of  production  had  decreased  because  of  the 
use  of  a better  quality  of  fertilizers  at  a given  cost,  more 
knowledge  and  skill  in  using  them,  better  implements,  and  more 
intelligent  management  generally.  W.  E.  Ardrey,  of  Charlotte, 
wrote  the  Committee  that  every  farmer  in  his  section,  and  he 
did  not  know  of  a single  exception,  who  raised  his  own  supplies, 
corn,  meat,  wheat,  oats,  horses,  etc.,  was  out  of  debt;  but  the 
contrary  was  true  as  to  those  who  bought  their  supplies. 

1896.  — A report  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture  shows 
that  the  average  cost  of  cotton  production  this  year  was  5.39 
cents  per  pound. 

In  June  cotton  lice  did  some  damage  in  North  Carolina,  South 
Carolina,  Georgia  and  Florida,  but  perhaps  not  more  than  usual. 
The  cotton  worm  and  boll  worm  appeared  rather  early.  Proper 
poisoning,  by  this  time  well  understood  in  even  the  remotest 
portions  of  the  cotton  belt,  prevented  damage  by  the  former,  and 
dry  weather  in  the  fall  considerably  reduced  the  number  of  the 
latter. 

1897.  — The  largest  crop  in  the  history  of  the  State  to  date, 
646,726  bales,  was  produced  this  year. 

Anthony  S.  Martin,  of  Maiden,  obtained  a patent  for  a cotton- 
picker.  The  picker  fingers  in  this  machine  were  arranged  on 
endless  revolving  aprons  to  which  rotating  brushes  were  adjusted. 

In  Pamlico  county  12  bales  of  cotton  were  produced  on  4 


66 


NORTH  CAROLINA 


acres.  A correspondent  of  the  New  Berne  Journal  stated  that 
cotton  had  been  grown  in  this  connty,  at  a cost  of  one  cent  a 
pound  in  the  seed  delivered  at  the  gin  house. 

1899. — There  were  3,656  miles  of  railway  in  operation. 

The  largest  yield  this  year  was  that  of  Robeson  county, 
28,8-17  bales. 

There  were  105,766  farmers  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of 
1,007,020  acres  of  cotton,  the  total  production  of  which  amounted 
to  216,506,930  pounds  of  lint  or  an  average  of  215  pounds  per 
acre.  The  counties  reporting  the  greatest  area  were,  Mecklen- 
burg, Robeson,  Wake,  Lhiion,  Johnston,  Anson,  Halifax,  Wayne, 
Cleveland  and  Edgecombe,  ranking  in  the  order  named. 

According  to  the  Census  there  were  in  operation  this  year 
2,573  cotton  gins;  in  1900  there  were  2,659,  and  the  vear  follow- 
ing 2,578.  The  average  output  of  each  gin  for  each  season 
was,  respectively,  181,  192  and  175  bales.  The  average  cost 
of  ginning  scjuare  and  round  bales  in  18S'9  was,  respectively,  $1.58 
and  83  cents  per  bale. 

The  cotton  mills  located  in  the  counties  named  consumed  this 
year  the  following  number  of  bales:'  Alamance,  26,702;  Cabar- 
ras,  21,282 ; Cleveland,  16,805 ; Durham,  21,358 ; Gaston, 
38,531 ; Lincoln,  9,512 ; Mecklenburg,  22,327 ; Richmond,  11,880, 
and  Wake,  10,676,  total,  185,106  bales.  The  production  of  these 
counties  was : Alamance,  736 ; Cabarras,  8,197 ; Cleveland, 
12,350 ; Durham,  1,320 ; Gaston,  7,177 ; Lincoln  5,796 ; Mecklen- 
burg, 22,805 ; Richmond,  23,931  and  Wake,  22,616,  total  105,228 
bales. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
North  Carolina,  1900-1908 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1000-01 

Bales 

509,341 

Bales 

408,333 

218 

1,428,066 

1901-02 

451,441 

509,486 

229 

1,682,272 

1902-0.3 

568,884 

531 ,2.55 

2.36 

1,796,390 

1903-04 

555,3.30 

544,448 

224 

1,923,887 

190-1-05 

749,712 

607,275 

2.38 

2,222.888 

1005-06 

652,815 

690,499 

245 

2,381,414 

1906-07 

611,2.58 

'727.820 

262 

2,640,633 

1907-08 

637,961 

652,485 

279 

2,912,445 

KING  COTTON 


67 


1900. — There  were  in  operation  this  year  twenty  cotton  oil 
mills  that  consumed  107,660  tons  of  seed  valued  at  $1,313,663. 
Of  the  seed  produced  in  the  State,  13.9  per  cent,  was  manufac- 
tured into  oil  products  valued  at  $1,880,015. 

The  reports  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture  show  that  218 
cotton  mills  were  in  operation  this  year  with  1,428,066  spindles 
that  consumed  408,333  bales  of  cotton.  Twenty-nine  new  mills 
were  completed  during  the  season,  1900-1901,  and  sixteen  were 
projected. 

1903. — The  stocks  at  interior  towns  at  the  close  of  the  season, 
August  31  (not  including  mill  stocks),  were  the  smallest  for 
many  years,  amounting  to  less  than  500  bales. 

At  a meeting  of  cotton  mill  officials  of  the  Carolinas  and 
Georgia,  held  a Charlotte  in  December,  steps  were  taken  to  curtail 
consumption  on  account  of  the  scarcity  of  cotton. 

1905.  — A Comiuittee  of  the  Southern  Cotton  Association  met 
at  Asheville  in  September,  and  fixed  upon  11  cents  at  which 
cotton  should  be  sold  by  its  members  during  this  season.  The 
total  cotton  crop  was  estimated  to  be  9,588,133  bales. 

Congressman  Webb  (of  North  Carolina)  introduced  a resolu- 
tion in  the  House  of  Representatives  requiring  the  Census  Bureau 
to  make  daily  reports  of  the  amount  of  cotton  ginned  each  day 
during  the  season. 

The' legislature  passed  an  act.  in  1889  prohibiting  all  future 
dealings  in  commodities  where  actual  delivery  was  not  intended 
or  made.  In  1905  it  was  amended  “so  as  not  to  apply  to  any 
person,  firm,  corporation  or  his  or  their  agent  engaged  in  the  busi- 
ness of  manufacturing  or  wholesale  merchandising  in  the  purchase 
or  sale  of  the  necessary  commodities  required  in  the  ordinary 
course  of  their  business.” 

1906.  — ‘‘More  than  ten  years  ago,”  says  the  Raleigh  News 
and  Observer,  “a  mulatto  named  W.  C.  Coleman,  who  had  some 
money  in  Concord,  conceived  the  idea  of  building  a cotton  mill 
in  that  town,  to  be  managed  by  negroes  and  to  be  operated  only 
by  negro  labor.  Many  negroes  took  stock,  white  men  gave  help 
and  advice,  but  the  Lincoln  cotton  mill  was  never  a success. 
Coleman  died  and  the  mill  was  sold  to  B.  N.  Duke. 

The  average  cost  of  production,  and  the  value  of  a 500  pound 


68 


NORTH  CAROLINA 


bale  of  cotton  in  four  counties  showing  the  highest  cost  of  pro- 
duction, and  four  showing  the  lowest,  as  estimated  by  the  State 
Commissioner  of  Labor,  was  for  the  four  highest  as  follows; 
Yadkin,  cost  $56.60,  value  $52.86 ; Hertford,  cost  $48.83,  value 
$56.50 ; Gates,  cost  $41.77,  value  $56.67 ; Halifax,  cost  $41.00, 
value  $56.00.  The  four  lowest : Pitt,  cost  $28.13,  value  $55.43 ; 
Cumberland,  cost  $27.60,  value  $55.31;  Jones,  cost  $26.00,  value 
$55.38 ; McDowell,  cost  $25.00,  value  $58.50.  The  first  four 
counties  are  in  the  northern,  and  the  second  four  in  the  southern 
section  of  the  State. 

The  report  of  H.  B.  Varner,  Commissioner  of  Labor,  showed 
that  there  were  318  textile  mills  in  the  state,  with  an  authorized 
capital  of  $41,278,160,  employing  2,558,114  spindles,  52,747 
looms,  5,237  knitting  machines  and  115,671  horse-power. 

1907. — According  to  the  report  of  the  Bureau  of  Labor  and 
Printing  the  329  cotton  mills  reporting  in  the  year  1907  show 
an  authorized  capital  of  $45,807,535,  and  the  employment  of 
2,768,576  spindles,  53,272  looms,  5,161  knitting  machines  and 
114,790  horse-power. 

There  were  50  cotton  oil  mills  in  the  State  that  consumed 
136,811  tons  of  seed  costing  $2,852,509.  The  value  of  the  prod- 
ucts, including  linters,  was  $3,609,851. 

According  to  the  Census  there  were  in  operation  2,754  cotton 
gins,  the  average  output  of  each  gin  being  232  bales. 


CHAPTER  IV 


South  Carolina  and  its  Cotton  Crops  from  1800  to 
1908 — Number  of  Cotton  Mills  and  Spindles  and 
Domestic  Consumption  of  Cotton — Historical  Data 
Relating  to  Cotton  Production. 

Undoubtedly  cotton  culture  began  at  a very  early  period  in 
the  history  of  South  Carolina.  Robert  Horne  mentions  it  in  1666 
as  one  of  the  products  of  the  colony,  and  in  Samuel  Wilson’s 
Account  of  the  Province  of  Carolina  in  America,  addressed  to  the 
Earl  of  Craven,  and  published  in  London  in  1682,  it  is  stated 
that  “cotton  of  the  Cyprus  and  Smyrna  sort  grows  well,  and  good 
plenty  of  the  seed  is  sent  thither.”  Mr.  West,  the  first  governor, 
was  instructed  to  furnish  himself  with  “cotton  seed,  indigo,  and 
ginger  roots,”  and  to  accept  the  products  of  the  country  in  pay- 
ment of  rents  at  certain  fixed  valuations,  among  which  cotton 
was  priced  at  per  pound.^ 

In  Oldham’s  history  of  “The  British  Empire  in  America,” 
published  in  London  in  1708,  cotton  is  enumerated  as  one  of 
the  principal  commodities.  “Some  cotton”  was  exported  from 
Charleston  in  1754,  and  another  London  publication  of  1762  says, 
“what  cotton  and  silk  both  the  Carolinas  send  us  is  excellent, 
and  calls  aloud  for  encouragement  of  its  cultivation  in  a place 
well  adapted  to  both.” 

The  very  first  Provincial  Congress,  realizing  the  importance 
of  cotton  growing  “recommended  to  its  people  to  raise  cotton,” 
and  there  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  for  some  years  prior  to 
the  Revolution  it  was  so  extensively  cultivated  as  to  become  an 
article  of  export,  though  on  a small  scale.  To  further  encourage 
its  cultivation,  and  to  discourage  the  importation  of  British  made 
goods,  the  Provincial  Congress  held  at  Charleston  in  November, 
1775,  passed  a resolution  offering  a premium  of  500  pounds 
currency,  and  other  premiums,  for  the  manufacture  of  cotton. 


^ The  Cotton  Plant.  U.  S.  Dept.  Agriculture. 

69 


70 


SOUTH  CAROLINA 


It  is  to  such  efforts  that  South  Carolina  is  entitled  to  the  distinc- 
tion of  being  the  first  of  the  cotton  States  to  embark  in  its 
manufacture. 

The  chief  difficulty  in  cotton  culture  at  this  time  seems  to 
have  been  the  lack  of  a good  quality  of  acclimated  seed.  What 
was  then  in  use  was  subject  to  rot,  and  produced  very  poor 
results.  The  first  experiments  with  sea-island  cotton  were  made 
in  1788,  by  Kinsey  Burden  on  Burdens  Island.  The  seed  used 
was  of  the  Bourbon  variety,  but  the  plants  would  not  mature  and 
the  experiment  failed.  The  first  success  with  the  sea-island  was 
made  by  William  Elliott  on  Hilton  Head,  in  1790.  He  planted 
5%  bushels  of  seed,  bought  in  Charleston,  for  which  he  paid  14s. 
a bushel,  and  sold  his  crop  for  lOY-A.  a pound.  The  following- 
year  John  Scriven,  of  St.  Lukes  Parish,  planted  30  to  40  acres  on 
St.  jMarys  river,  and  sold  his  crop  for  from  Is.  2d.  to  Is.  6d.  per 
pound. 

Even  as  early  as  1785  a society  was  incorporated  to  promote 
the  interests  of  agriculture : “to  institute  a farm  for  agricultural 
experiments,”  and  medals  were  offered,  “for  an  efficacious  and 
practical  method  of  destroying  the  caterpillars  which  infest  the 
cotton  plant,”  and  “for  the  best  and  most  practical  method  of 
discharging  stains  from  cotton  and  rendering  it  perfectly  white,” 
also  for  “the  greatest  amount  of  oil  obtained  from  ground  nuts, 
and  from  the  seed  of  sesamum  or  bene,  of  cotton,  and  of 
sunflowers.” 

In  the  first  Congress  held  after  the  organization  of  the  Eed- 
eral  Government  (1789),  in  the  revenue  law  as  it  passed  the 
House  of  Representatives,  cotton  was  placed  on  the  free  list. 
When  the  bill  reached  the  Senate  a duty  of  3 cents  a pound  was 
imposed,  “not  to  encourage,  not  to  protect,  but  to  create  the 
domestic  culture.”  When  discussing  this  amendment  in  the 
House,  a member  from  South  Carolina  declared  that  cotton 
culture  “was  in  contemplation  in  South  Carolina  and  Georgia,” 
and  if  good  seed  could  be  procured  he  hoped  it  “might  succeed.” 
He  no  doubt  meant  that  its  culture  “was  contemplated”  on  a 
larger  scale,  for  at  that  time  planters  were  clothing  their  slaves 
in  homespun  from  the  produce  of  their  cotton  fields.  This  was 
some  time  before  the  invention  of  the  saw  gin,  when  the  lint 


KING  COTTON 


71 


had  to  be  picked  from  the  seed  by  hand  at  the  rate  of  about  4 
pounds  per  week,  and  when  spun  by  the  family  was  sent  to  the 
nearest  weaver/  A manufacturing  establishment  of  Irish  set- 
tlers near  ^Murray's  Ferry,  in  Williamsburg-  district,  supplied  the 
adjacent  country,  and  as  early  as  1790  a small  cotton  mill  with 
84  spindles,  driven  by  water  power,  was  in  operation  near 
Statesburg  in  the  central  portion  of  the  state.  Three  years  prior 
to  this  date  (1787)  a small  horse-power  mill,  the  first  cotton  mill 
in  the  South,  and  possibly  in  this  countr)-,  was  operated  on  James 
Island  near  Charleston,  by  Mrs.  Ramage,  the  widow  of  a Carolina 
planter. 

Referring  to  the  attention  given  to  rice  and  cotton  about  1792 
Ramsey-  says : “These  two  staples  have  so  monopolized  the 
agricultural  force  of  the  state  that  for  several  years  past  other 
articles  of  export,  and  even  provisions  have  been  greatly  neg- 
lected. * * * So  much  cotton  is  made  in  Carolina  and  Georgia 
that,  if  the  whole  was  manufactured  in  the  Chiited  States,  it  would 
go  far  in  clothing  a great  proportion  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
L nion.” 

During  the  first  two  decades  of  the  last  century  (1800-1820) 
South  Carolina  was  the  leading  cotton  producing  State  in  the 
Lnion,  the  annual  crop  ranging  from  115,000  to  175,000  bales. 
In  1825  it  exceeded  200,000  bales,  but  did  not  reach  300,000  bales 
until  1848.  From  that  date  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War, 
the  largest  crop  was  353,000  bales  in  1859.  It  was  eight  years 
after  the  war  before  a crop  equal  to  this  was  produced. 

The  discovery  of  the  rich  phosphate  deposits  near  Charleston 
(1869)  was  destined  to  have  a powerful  effect  upon  cotton  cul- 
ture, for  it  greatlv  cheapened,  and  hence  popularized  the  use  of 
commercial  fertilizers.  Thousands  of  acres  of  worn  out  lands 
were  again  brought  under  cultivation,  and  cotton  planting  was 
extended  to  the  very  base  of  the  Blue  Ridge  mountains,  and  into 
several  counties  that  hitherto  had  never  undertaken  it  because  of 
the  early  frosts.  It  was  found  that  a liberal  use  of  fertilizers 
hastened  maturity,  and  put  the  plant  beyond  the  danger  of  killing 
frosts. 


^ Bishop’s  History  of  American  Manufactures  (1864). 
2 History  of  South  Carolina. 


SOUTH  CAROLINA 


72 


The  effects  of  fertilizing,  and  the  practice  of  a more  intensive 
system  of  culture  is  clearly  shown  in  the  decade  1870-1880,  when 
the  crop  increased  from  348,000  to  over  500,000  bales,  and  in 
the  following  decade  from  593,000  to  747,000  bales,  and  also  in 
the  decade  1890-1900  from  859,000  to  1,000,000  bales.  From 

348.000  to  1,000,000  bales,  or  an  increase  of  188  per  cent,  within 
a generation,  is  a tremendous  stride  in  agriculture. 

According  to  the  Census  the  area  planted  in  cotton  in  1879 
was  1,364,000  acres,  and  the  estimate  of  the  Department  of  Agri- 
culture for  1904,  2,532,000  acres,  an  increase  since  1879  of  1,168,- 
000  acres,  or  about  86  per  cent.  The  production  in  1879  was 

522.000  bales,  and  that  of  1904,  the  largest  crop  ever  made,  1,193,- 
000  bales,  an  increase  of  671,000  bales,  or  about  128  per  cent. 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  South  Carolina,  1800-1809 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1800-01 

115,000 

1805-06 

165,000 

1801-02 

127,368 

1806-07 

147,000 

1802-03 

128  000 

1807-08 

136,000 

1803-04 

125,000 

1808-09 

175.000 

1804-05 

145,000 

1809-10 

160.000 

1800. — When  the  cotton  was  well  opened  a negro  hand  was 
expected  to  pick  from  60  to  70  pounds  a day. 

The  exports  of  cotton  from  Charleston  from  Oct.  1st,  1800, 
to  Oct.  1st,  1801,  amounted  to  8,301,907  pounds. 

Before  the  saw  gin  came  into  general  use  it  is  said  that  one 
person  was  expected  to  clean  by  hand  about  one  pound  of  cotton 
per  day.  It  was  the  custom  in  Williamsburg  county  for  planters 
to  require  field  hands  to  clean  4 pounds  per  week,  in  addition  to 
their  other  work. 

“The  important  initiation  of  King  Cotton’s  rule  in  the  foreign 
Commerce  of  the  United  States,”  says  the  Magazine  of  American 
History,  “was  made  by  Capt.  Robert  Sheffield,  of  Fairfield,  Con- 
necticut, an  uncle  of  the  late  Mr.  Joseph  E.  Sheffield,  the  vener- 
able and  liberal  founder  of  Yale  College  Scientific  School.  As 
early  as  the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  in  his  ship  “Sov- 
ereign,” of  220  tons,  he  took  out  450  bales  from  Charleston, 
touching  at  the  port  of  New  York,  and  clearing  for  Liverpool,  his 


KING  COTTON 


73 


cargo  covering  the  deck  of  his  vessel,  from  stint  of  hold-room.  On 
arrival  at  Liverpool  the  dealers  would  not  at  first  believe  that  his 
cotton  was  from  this  country,  so  that  he  was  obliged  to  bond  it, 
until  he  could  obtain  a formal  consular  certificate.” 

The  Santee  Canal  connecting  Santee  and  Cooper  rivers  was 
opened  for  traffic.  It  cost  $600,000,  or  seven  times  as  much  as 
the  province  sold  for  72  years  before. 

1801. — The  exports  of  cotton  from  Charleston  during  this 
year  amounted  to  8,000,000  pounds. 

The  legislature  passed  an  act  appropriating  $50,000  to  pur- 
chase the  patent  right  to  Whitney’s  saw  gin  for  public  use  in  the 
State. 

1803. — The  Charleston  Courier  (September  2)  gave  the  fol- 
lowing quotations  for  cotton : Georgia  sea-island,  50  cents, 
Georgia  common,  20  cents ; Carolina  sea-island,  50  cents,  stained 
18  cents ; upland  black  seed,  10  cents ; upland  black  seed,  saw- 
ginned,  25  cents ; upland  green  seed,  19  cents. 

1801. — The  cotton  worm  was  very  destructive  to  the  crop. 

1805.  — Sea-island  cotton  sold  for  25  cents  a pound  more 
than  upland. 

Kinsey  Burden,  of  St.  John’s,  Colleton  District,  by  a very 
careful  selection  of  seed  and  with  rigid  care  in  cultivation,  pro- 
duced cotton  worth  25  cents  a pound  more  than  that  of  his 
neighbors. 

1806.  — The  sea-island  cotton  raised  at  Hilton  Head,  by  Will- 
iam Elliott,  brought  higher  prices  than  cotton  of  any  other  kind. 
He  obtained  30  cents  per  pound  while  other  qualities  sold  for  22 
cents. 

1807.  — Unusual  interest  was  manifested  in  cotton  manufac- 
turing, and  efforts  were  made  to  establish  small  factories  to 
introduce  upon  plantations  the  making  of  cotton  goods  for  negro 
wear  and  also  cotton  blankets. 

1808.  — The  second  cotton  mill  was  built  this  year. 

In  August  a meeting  of  citizens  was  held  in  Charleston  and 
the  South  Carolina  Homespun  Co.  was  organized  with  a capital 
stock  of  $150,000,  its  object  being  to  establish  and  carry  on  and 
encourage  manufactures  in  Charleston  and  vicinity.  It  was  pro- 
posed to  spin  cotton  and  wool.  This  move  was  one  of  the  results 


74 


SOUTH  CAROLINA 


of  the  embargo  of  1808,  a favorite  measure  of  the  Jefferson 
Administration. 

The  green  seed  variety  was  universally  cultivated  at  this 
time  in  the  middle  and  upper  country.  An  acre  of  good  cotton 
land  would  usually  produce  200  pounds  of  lint  of  the  green  seed 
variety,  and  150  pounds  of  the  sea-island,  although  as  much  as 
300  pounds  had  been  made  in  the  Beaufort  district. 

1809. — Cotton  goods  were  manufactured  in  the  Union  district, 
and  cotton  blankets  in  Prince  William  district.  About  this  time 
“a  factory  for  making  check  goods  and  handkerchiefs  was  estab- 
lished at  Charleston,  which  turned  out  some ' very  pretty 
goods.” 


Co.vi.MERCiAL  Cotton  Crops  of  South  Carolina,  1810-1819 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1810-11 

135,560 

141,422 

138,126 

128,106 

145,111 

1815-16 

160,345 

159,522 

140,123 

168,000 

169„561 

1811-12 

1816-17 

1812-13 

1817-18 

1813- 14 

1814- 15 

1818- 19 

1819- 20 

1814.  — As  early  as  March  31st  of  this  year,  a patent  was 
granted  to  J.  Lineback  of  Salem  for  a cotton  seed  hulling  ma- 
chine. The  records  describing  the  invention  are  supposed  to  have 
been  lost  in  the  destruction  of  the  public  buildings  by  the  British 
army  in  1814.  Fifteen  years  prior  to  this  date  a patent  had  been 
granted  to  C.  Whiting,  for  a “Process  for  extracting  oil  from 
cotton  seed.”  Although  this  patent  was  regularly  indexed,  as  in 
the  case  of  Lineback’s  patent,  the  specifications  were  either 
destro3^ed  by  fire  or  lost. 

1815.  — It  was  during  this  year  that  sea-island  cotton  planters 
succeeded  in  having  their  product  graded  separately  from  other 
varieties. 

1816.  — John  T.  Donald,  in  the  Southern  Cultivator,  wrote 
as  follows  regarding  the  varieties  cultivated:  “The  first  cotton 
I ever  saw  was  in  upper  South  Carolina.  It  was  the  little  black 
seed  in  those  times,  and  30  to  40  lbs.  was  a day’s  picking  for  a 
grown  hand,  and  50  lbs.  was  extraordinary.  About  that  time  the 
green  seed  was  introduced,  a very  great  improvement.  About 


KING  COTTON 


75 


1816  or  1817  the  Mexican  seed  was  introduced.  This  was  the 
most  beautiful  I ever  saw,  as  full  of  fruit  as  could  be  from  top 
to  botlom.  The  bolls  opened  very  wide,  and  the  cotton  being  in 
long  tassels,  you  could  see  nothing  but  cotton ; a field  looked  like 
a sheet  of  snow.  The  yield  was  large,  staple  fine  and  of  good 
length.  This  seed  was  abandoned  for  two  reasons : it  was  sub- 
ject to  rot  badly;  and,  in  consequence  of  the  bolls  opening  so  wide, 
the  loss  from  wind  and  rain  was  too  much  to  make  it  profitable 
to  raise.  The  next  seed  I remember  was  the  Petit  Gulf.  These 
were  superior  at  first,  but  soon  dealers  began  selling  seed  that 
were  not  genuine.  I have  known  persons  to  get  sacks  marked 
Petit  Gulf  at  New  Orleans — go  up  the  river,  have  them  filled 
indiscriminately  in  Louisiana,  opposite  Rodney,  Miss,  (where 
the  Petit  Gulf  seed  were  sold),  and  when  shipped  would  date  their 
bills  of  landing  from  Rodney,  to  complete  the  deception.  Soon 
after  this  a host  of  improved  seed  were  offered  for  sale — the 
Hogan,  Dime,  Brown’s  Prolific,  Sugar  Loaf,  Mastodon,  etc.” 

Sea-island  cotton  sold  at  Charleston  from  37  to  55  cents,  and 
upland  from  23  to  32  cents  per  pound.  In  1817  the  price  of  sea- 
island  cotton  ranged  from  39  to  58  cents,  and  upland  from  25^/2 
to  35  cents ; in  1819  the  range  of  sea-island  was  from  37%  to  55 
cents,  and  upland  from  15  to  27  cents. 

Sea-island  cotton  sold  for  55  cents  a pound  in  Charleston. 

1818. — The  crop  was  reported  to  be  considerably  damaged 
by  rot. 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  South  Carolina,  1820-1.829' 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1820-21 

1821-22 

175.949 

190.286 

160.050 

192.910 

190.521 

1825- 26 

1826- 27  . . 

216.227 

179.810 

133.531 

160.666 

194, .537 

1822-2.3 

1827-28 

1823-24 

1828  29 

1824-25 

1829-30 

1820. — The  three  varieties  of  cotton  planted  were : the  green 
seed  upland,  the  black  seed  grown  on  the  sea-islands,  and  the 
Nankeen,  or  yellow,  which  even  earlier  than  1820  was  raised 
in  the  middle  and  upper  counties  for  domestic  use  to  save  the 
cost  of  dyeing.  There  were  three  gins  spoken  of  as  then  in  use. 


76 


SOUTH  CAROLINA 


viz. : the  barrel  gin ; Eve’s  gin,  and  Whitney’s  saw  gin.  At  this 
date  Whitney’s  gin  would  clean  from  600  ot  900  lbs.  of  cotton  per 
day,  and  five  pairs  of  roller  gins  about  135  lbs.  a day. 

The  following  are  the  lowest  and  highest  quotations  for  sea- 
island  and  upland  cotton  in  the  Charleston  market  during  the 
years  named: — 1820,  sea-island  28  to  39  cents,  and  upland  15 
to  20  cents ; 1821,  sea-island  26  to  30  cents,  and  upland  14  to  18 
cents ; 1823  sea-island  25  to  33  cents,  and  upland  IIV2  to  17 
cents ; 1824,  sea-island  25  to  30  cents  and  upland  14  to  16^2  cents ; 
1825,  sea-island,  32  to  87^^  and  upland  13^  to  32  cents. 

1821. — At  this  time  South  Carolina  and  Georgia  produced 
more  than  one-half  the  cotton  grown  in  the  country. 

The  crop  was  damaged  by  the  caterpillar  to  a greater  extent 
than  ever  before  known. 

Two  lots  of  sea-island  cotton  sold  in  Charleston,  one  for  92 
cents  and  the  other  for  $1.05  per  lb. 

1826.  — Kinsey  Burden,  of  St.  John’s,  raised  a crop  of  sea- 
island  cotton,  60  bags,  which  he  sold  for  $1.10  per  pound.  The 
year  following  (1827)  he  sold  his  crop  for  $1.25  a pound,  and 
in  1828  he  got  $2.00  per  pound  for  two  bags.  This  was  the 
highest  price  ever  reached  so  far  as  known. 

1827.  — In  a contribution  to  the  Southern  Agriculturist,  Wil- 
liam Elliott  of  Beaufort,  says  of  the  gin  then  in  use  for  clean- 
ing sea-island  cotton : — “Eve’s  gin  was  formerly  in  successful  use, 
but  that  as  well  as  the  barrel  gin  has  been  superseded  by  the  com- 
mon foot  or  crank  gin,  whose  extreme  simplicity  of  structure  has 
given  it  an  advantage  over  others  more  efficient  but  more 
complicated.  The  rollers  most  in  vogue  are  of  seasoned  oak,  and 
30  pounds  of  clean  cotton  is  easily  turned  out  to  each  gin.’’ 

1828.  — A cotton  planter,  known  as  “Smith’s  Virginia  Cotton 
Planter’’  was  in  use  at  this  time.  John  R.  Matthews,  a sea- 
island  cultivator,  states  that  as  an  experiment  he  planted  50  acres 
with  it,  and  with  one  hand  and  a mule  it  was  planted  at  the  rate 
of  8 to  12  acres  per  day,  according  to  the  speed  of  the  animal.  His 
cotton  came  up  about  30  hours  earlier  and  more  regularly  than 
that  planted  with  the  hoe,  and  he  decided  to  use  it  in  the 
future. 

There  were  six  kinds  of  sea-island  seed  in  use : 1.  The  black 


KING  COTTON 


77 


seed,  quality  coarse,  quantity  great.  2.  The  black  seed  covered 
with  green  down,  quality  better  than  the  first,  quantity  not  so 
great.  3.  The  black  seed  tipped  with  green  down,  quality  fine, 
quantity  less  than  the  second.  4.  The  brown  seed  covered 
with  brown  down,  quality  silky,  quantity  small.  5.  The  brown 
seed  tipped  with  brown  down,  quality  superior  to  the  fourth, 
quantity  less.  6.  The  brown  seed  clear,  with  a small  stem  pro- 
jecting at  one  end,  quality  superior  to  any,  quantity  least  of  all. 
A mixture  of  one  quart  of  No.  3 with  a bushel  of  No.  5 was 
said  to  yield  the  most  profitable  crop. 

One-fourth  of  the  cotton  was  allowed  to  the  owner  of  a gin 
“for  the  expense  of  cleaning  it  from  the  seed,  the  purchase  of 
the  duck,  and  cordage,  and  transportation  to  the  market.” 

Sea-island  cotton  sold  for  $2.00  a pound. 

Some  inquiries  from  prominent  planters  in  the  sea-island 
district  elicited  the  following:  About  3^^  acres  were  allowed  to 
each  hand ; the  average  yield  was  about  450  pounds  to  the  hand ; 
seed  was  carefully  selected  from  the  earliest  pickings ; cotton 
produced  from  seed  with  a green  tuft  or  green  woolly  coat  was 
the  finest  and  most  silky,  though  not  the  most  productive ; marsh 
or  salt  mud  taken  from  the  creeks  proved  to  be  the  best  manure ; 
cotton  grown  on  the  most  sandy  high  hills  was  most  productive 
and  silky ; caterpillars  and  storms  had  destroyed  some  of  the  most 
promising  crops. 

Cotton  bagging  and  cotton  rope  were  used  for  wrapping  and 
binding  cotton  bales.  Many  hundreds  of  bales  were  tlius  pre- 
pared for  market  in  the  neighborhood  of  Camden. 

1829. — The  second  cotton  mill,  run  by  other  than  horse  power, 
was  built  at  Pendleton. 

A cotton  oil  mill  was  in  operation  at  Columbia  about  this 
time. 


CoM-MERCIAL  CoTTON  CrOPS  OF  SoUTH  CAROLINA,  1830-1839 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1830-31 

190,721 

174.088 

187.369 

208,571 

180.441 

1835-36 

184,989 

1,57.102 

176,600 

113,492 

175,985 

1831-32 

1836-37  . . 

1832-33 

1837-38 

1833-34 

1838-39  

18.34-35 

1839-40 

SOUTH  CAROLINA 


1830.  — Mexican  cotton  seed  was  used  in  Laurens  county  at 
this  period.  It  was  said  that  some  hands  could  pick  200  pounds 
of  this  variety  in  a day. 

1833. — The  South  Carolina  R.  R.,  now  the  Southern  Railway, 
was  chartered  as  the  Charleston  & Hamburg  R.  R.  Co.  Decem- 
ber 19,  1827,  from  Charleston  to  Hamburg  (137  miles),  and  was 
opened  October  1,  1833.  The  first  section  of  six  or  seven  miles 
from  Charleston  was  completed  in  the  winter  of  1830,  and  the 
first  locomotive  placed  thereon  December  6,  1830.  This  was  the 
first  railroad  built  south  of  the  Potomac  River.  The  branch 
line  to  Columbia  was  opened  November  1,  18-10,  and  that  to 
Camden,  June  26,  1818. 

In  the  sea-island  cotton  district  the  cotton  worm  caused  the 
severest  loss  in  many  years.  The  planters  agreed  that  had  it 
not  been  for  the  prompt  application  of  paris  green,  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  crop  would  have  been  almost  complete. 

1831.  — The  South  Carolina  Railroad  handled  21,567  bales  of 
cotton  the  first  year  the  road  was  opened,  and  52,585  bales  the 
second  year. 

C.  Leek  and  W.  Jenks,  of  Columbia,  obtained  a patent  for 
machinery  “to  hull  and  break  cotton  seed.” 

1835.  — The  Charleston  IMercury  invited  attention  to  the  supe- 
riority of  the  Whittemore  gin  for  sea-island  cotton,  which  it 
was  said  might  be  worked  either  by  treadle  or  by  machinery, 
and  was  superior  to  the  common  foot  gin. 

1836.  — One  field  hand  with  some  additional  help,  was  sup- 
posed to  cultivate  about  8 acres  in  cotton  and  from  5 to  8 acres 
in  corn.  A good  hand  was  worth  at  this  time  from  $800  to  $1,000, 
or  nearly  twice  the  price  paid  in  1825. 

1838.  — A cotton  mill,  now  known  as  the  mill  of  the  Pendleton 
Manufacturing  Co.,  was  built  this  vear  at  Autun. 

1839.  — All  of  the  29  counties  in  the  State  produced  cotton. 
The  order  of  production  for  the  first  five  was:  Abbeville,  Fair- 
field,  Edgefield,  Laurens  and  Newberry. 

There  were  at  this  time  15  cotton  mills  in  the  State  operating 
16,355  spindles. 


KING  COTTON 


79 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
South  Carolina,  1840-1S49 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1840-41 

Bales 

132,796 

Bales 

No  data 

No  data 

No  data 

1841-42 

140,489 

do 

do 

do 

1842-43 

189,895 

do 

do 

do 

1843-44 

118,932 

do 

do 

do 

1844-45 

229,649 

do 

do 

do 

1845-46 

168,-554 

do 

do 

do 

1846-47 

262,650 

do 

do 

do 

1847-48 

2.39,808 

6,000 

do 

do 

1848-49 

343,587 

15,000 

do 

do 

1849-50 

300,901 

9,929 

18 

36,500 

1840. — There  were  204  miles  of  railway  in  operation. 

The  South  Carolina  Railroad  handled  58,496  bales  of  cotton. 

1843. — The  freight  rates  on  cotton  from  Columbia  and  Ham- 
burg, as  announced  by  the  South  Carolina  R.  R.,  was  25  cents 
for  100  lbs.,  “subject  to  variation  by  bale  or  by  weight.” 

“The  small  use  of  the  plow — indeed  its  total  disuse  in  many 
cases” — said  Mr.  Ruffin,  a well-known  writer  on  agriculture, 
“and  the  substitution  of  the  hoe  and  hand  labor,  is  to  a stranger 
the  most  remarkable  and  novel  feature  of  the  agriculture  'of  the 
lower  districts.” 

The  reports  of  the  Agricultural  Society  of  South  Carolina 
showed  that  the  State  did  not  produce  enough  corn  for  home 
consumption : The  imports  of  corn  into  the  State  in  1838  and 
1839  amounted  to  about  500,000  bushels;  from  October,  1841,  to 
October,  1842,  to  360,000  bushels,  and  from  October,  1842,  to 
October,  1843,  to  260,000  bushels. 

R.  'Wk  Roper  in  a Report  of  the  Committee  on  Agriculture 
(on  a Geological  and  Agricultural  Survey  of  the  State)  made  to 
the  Legislature,  referring  to  South  Carolina’s  competition  with 
the  Gulf  States  in  growing  cotton,  said : “These  new  lands  pro- 
duce on  an  average  2,500  pounds  of  cotton  per  hand,  whilst 
the  lands  in  Carolina  yield  but  1,200  pounds,  and  the  expense 
of  a laborer  being  about  equal  in  either  place,  reduces  the  Caro- 
lina cotton  to  half  its  intrinsic  cost.  * ^ lands  of 

the  Gulf  States  with  Texas  are  sufficient  to  supply  the  demand  of 
the  world,  in  all  time  to  come!  Where,  then,  is  the  hope  of 
South  Carolina  in  competition?” 


80 


SOUTH  CAROLINA 


1844.  — In  an  address  before  one  of  the  South  Carolina  Agri- 
cultural Societies,  Gen.  Hamilton  stated  that  the  price  of  cotton 
was  then  below  the  cost  of  production,  and  that  the  planters 
could  not  grow  it  for  4 cents  net  per  pound,  “at  the  present  price 
of  negroes.” 

1845.  — Intense  heat  and  protracted  drought  cut  ofif  the  cot- 
ton yield.  The  Anderson  Gazette  estimated  the  yield  at  only  one- 
half  of  an  ordinary  crop.  The  drought  on  Edisto  Island  was  par- 
ticularly severe,  the  cotton  stalks  turned  red,  the  leaves  withered 
and  died,  covering  the  earth  as  after  a frost. 

The  Barnwell  Agricultural  Society  highly  recommended  cot- 
ton seed  as  a fertilizer. 

Daniel  iMcCullough,  of  Gladdens  Grove,  Fairfield  district, 
began  this  year  erecting  a building  for  a cotton  factory. 

The  caterpillar  caused  more  damage  to  the  crop  than  was 
ever  before  known.  In  some  sections  there  was  a total  loss. 

1848.  — The  crops  in  South  Carolina  and  Georgia  were  un- 
usually early,  and  during  September  and  October  the  amount  of 
cotton  marketed  was  larger  than  for  many  years. 

1849.  — During  the  summer  the  rainfall  throughout  the  State 
was  heavier  than  for  many  years. 

A cotton  mill  at  Graniteville  with  8,400  spindles  and  300 
looms  was  completed  this  year.  William  Gregg,  who  greatly 
interested  himself  in  the  industrial  progress  of  the  South,  was 
the  founder  of  the  enterprise. 

On  the  sea-island  plantations  it  was  estimated  that  one  hand 
cultivated  about  3^  acres,  which  yielded  134^  pounds  to  the 
acre,  and  498  pounds  per  hand.  The  average  price  of  sea-island 
was  37 cents  per  pound. 

The  Columbia  Telegraph  made  the  following  record  of  cot- 
ton mills  in  the  State: — No.  1,  Dekalb  Factory  near  Camden, 
doing  a fine  business;  No.  2,  The  Bivingsville  Factory  near 
Spartanburg  C.  H.,  property  of  G.  and  E.  C.  Leitner,  doing 
well ; No.  3,  A new  factory  now  being  erected  on  a large  scale 
by  Dr.  Bivings ; No.  4,  The  Saluda  Factory  near  Columbia,  which 
has  been  undergoing  repairs,  now  in  operation,  and  has  been 
doing  a fine  business  the  last  three  years;  No.  5,  Vaucluse  Fac- 
tory near  Hamburg,  under  management  of  Gen.  James  Jones, 


C'onrtcsy  of  A.  Simon.  Monliceilo,  Pla. 


KING  COTTON 


81 


understood  it  is  doing  well;  No.  6,  Graniteville  Factory  near 
Aiken,  lately  established  under  the  management  of  William 
Gregg,  Esq. ; No.  7,  Fulton  Factory  near  Statesburg,  manager 
Col.  Dyson,  doing  well;  No.  8,  Mt.  Dearborn  Factory  on  the 
Catawba,  lately  put  in  operation  and  managed  by  the  owner, 
D.  INIcCullough ; No.  9,  Marlborough  Yarn  Factory,  owned  by 
Messrs.  Townsend  and  McQueen,  under  lease  to  a Northern 
manufacturer;  No.  10,  A small  factory  at  Society  Flill,  owned 
by  Col.  Williams,  . from  which  he  supplies  his  own  and  neighboring 
plantations  with  a superior  article  of  bagging,  also  makes  yarns ; 
No.  11,  An  establishment  like  the  above  on  an  extensive  scale, 
now  building  at  Charleston. 

The  Petit  Gulf  was  the  upland  variety  most  generally  planted. 

1849. — Frosts  about  the  middle  of  April  destroyed  much  of 
the  growing  crop. 

Edgefield  county  made  25,880  bales  of  400  pounds  each, 
which  was  the  largest  yield  of  any  county  in  the  state. 

A cotton  mill  with  3,165  spindles  and  lOO  looms  was  completed 
this  year  at  Charleston. 

Air.  William  Gregg,  president  of  the  Graniteville  A'lanufac- 
turing  Company,  estimated  that  the  Southern  cotton  mills  had  an 
advantage  of  ^ of  a cent  a pound  over  Northern  mills  on  account 
of  transportation,  and  that  mill  labor  was  20  per  cent,  cheaper 
than  in  the  North. 


Co.MMERCIAL  CrOPS  AND  Co.NSUMPTION  OF  COTTON  IN 

South  Carolina,  1850-1859 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumii^^ion 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1850-.51 

Bales 

2.50.116 

Bales 

10.000 

16 

36„500 

19.51-52 

280,994 

10,000 

No  data 

No  data 

18.52-5.3 

316,324 

10,000 

do 

do 

1853-54 

274,739 

11,869 

do 

do 

1854-55 

325,485 

10,881 

do 

do 

1855—56 

322,711 

11,076 

do 

do 

1856-57 

263,657 

11.412 

do 

do 

1857-58 

.327,025 

9,591 

do 

do 

18.5.S-59 

346,962 

8..594 

do 

do 

1859-00 

353,416 

8,6.48 

17 

30,890 

1850. — A cotton  mill  was  built  and  put  in  operation  at 
Arlington. 

-A.  cotton  mill  was  in  operation  on  the  Saluda  River  near 


82 


SOUTH  CAROLINA 


Columbia  which  employed  negro  operatives.  The  Charleston 
jMercury  made  this  statement  regarding  its  operation : “The 
superintendent  and  overseers  are  white,  and  of  great  experience 
in  manufacturing.  They  are  principally  from  the  North,  and 
though  at  first  strongly  prejudiced  against  African  labor,  from 
observation  and  more  experience  they  all  testify  their  equal 
efficiency  and  great  superiority  in  many  respects.  The  experi- 
ment with  this  labor  was  first  tested  in  the  spinning  department 
and  the  older  spinners  were  then  transferred  to  the  weaving 
room.  They  are  now  turning  out  as  many  yards  to  the  loom  as 
were  performed  under  the  older  system.’’ 

The  following  was  the  estimated  cost  of  making  a pound  of 
cloth  at  the  Graniteville  cotton  mill  in  1850 : Cost  of  picking 
.097  cents;  carding  .762  cents;  spinning  .658  cents;  spool,  warp- 
ing and  dressing  .515  cents ; weaving  1.832  cents ; baling  .092 
cents ; sundries  .677  cents ; total  4.633  cents.  This  embraced  the 
cost  of  all  labor,  from  superintendent  down  to  the  sweeper,  as 
well  as  oil,  starch,  fuel,  etc.  It  also  included  all  repairs  and 
change  of  machinery  in  the  mill.  The  goods  made  were  4-4  sheet- 
ing, 7-8  shirting,  and  7-8  twilled,  and  averaged  2.56  yards  to 
the  pound. 

The  average  yield  of  cotton  per  acre  in  the  State  as  estimated 
by  W.  S.  Gibbs  was  150  to  200  lbs.  of  lint. 

There  were  289  miles  of  railway  in  operation. 

1851. — The  late  cold  spring  and  a long  drought  in  June  and 
July  cut  off  the  cotton  yield. 

A correspondent  of  the  New  York  Herald  who  visited  the 
Saluda  factory,  near  Columbia,  made  this  comment  on  the  use 
of  negro  slaves  in  cotton  manufactories : “The  Saluda  Factory 
(.$100,000  capital)  employs  98  operatives,  or  128  including  chil- 
dren. They  are  all  slaves  and  a large  proportion  of  them  are 
owned  by  the  company.  The  mill  runs  5,000  spindles  and  120 
looms.  The  fabrics  manufactured  are  heavy  brown  shirting 
and  southern  stripes,  a coarse  kind  of  colored  goods  for  house 
servants.  The  superintendent  is  decidedly  of  the  opinion  that 
slave  labor  is  cheaper  for  cotton  manufacture  than  white  labor ; 
the  average  cost  per  annum  of  those  employed  in  this  mill,  he 
said,  does  not  exceed  $75.  The  blacks  could  endure  better  the 


KING  COTTON 


83 


labor  of  a cotton  mill  than  the  whites.  The  negroes  in  this 
factory,  male  and  female,  appeared  to  be  cheerful,  well  fed  and 
healthy.  The  mill  had  been  at  that  date  (1851)  operated  by 
slave  labor,  with  one  white  overseer  for  about  two  years,  and  the 
result  so  far  as  cost  was  concerned  was  in  favor  of  the  negro, 
given  as  follows : Average  cost  of  a slave  operative,  per  annum, 
$75.00,  average  cost  of  a white  operative,  per  annum,  $116.00, 
a difference  of  over  30  per  cent,  saved  in  the  cost  of  the  labor.” 

1852.  — The  Charlotte,  Columbia  & Augusta  Railroad,  now 
the  Southern  Railway,  from  Charlotte  to  Augusta  (191  miles) 
was  completed  from  Charlotte  to  Columbia  in  1852,  and  from 
Columbia  to  Augusta  in  1869. 

1853.  — -William  Seabrook  was  the  first  sea-island  planter 
who  prepared  his  crop  with  the  McCarty  gin.  The  year  follow- 
ing (1854)  steam  power  for  ginning  was  first  used. 

The  Greenville  & Columbia  Railroad,  now  the  Southern 
Railway,  from  Columbia  to  Greenville  (142^  miles)  was  char- 
tered in  1846  and  opened  in  December. 

Prior  to  this  year  the  common  foot-gin  or  treadle  propelling 
two  rollers  was  the  machine  used  for  separating  the  fiber  of 
sea-island  cotton  from  the  seed,  cleaning  on  an  average  25  lbs.  a 
day.  But  the  McCarty,  or  Florida  gin,  with  one  roller,  attracted 
much  attention,  and  the  planters  began  putting  them  up  as  fast 
as  they  could  be  procured.  A gin  costing  $100,  propelled  by  one 
horse,  would  clean  from  150  lbs.  to  200  lbs.  a day.  Mr.  McCarty 
of  Florida,  secured  a patent  in  1840,  for  a gin  having  one  roller, 
4 inches  in  diameter  and  3 feet  long,  dressed  with  leather  arranged 
spirally  around  it.  This  roller  revolved  over  and  in  loose  contact 
with  a plate  of  sheet  iron.  The  cotton  was  received  and  drawn 
in  between  the  two,  and  the  seed  separated  by  means  of  a thin 
steel  bar  placed  horizontally,  and  operating  vertically  in  front 
of  the  roller  and  with  great  rapidity.  A one-horse  power  machine 
would  clean  as  much  cotton  with  one  hand  as  five  old  fashion  gins 
each  with  one  hand.  Strange  to  say,  an  invention  of  so  much 
value  remained  almost  unknown  in  South  Carolina  until  the 
year  1853,  and  was  not  used  with  steam  until  1854.  To  Wil- 
liam M.  Lawton,  is  due  the  credit  for  first  bringing  it  into  use 
in  the  State,  and  William  Seabrook  is  said  to  have  been  the 


84 


SOUTH  CAROLINA 


first  planter  who  ventured  to  use  it  in  the  preparation  of  his 
crop.  He  sent  samples  of  his  cotton  to  the  New  York  Industrial 
Exhibition  and  a bale  to  Manchester,  England. 

The  Cheraw  & Darlington  Railroad,  now  the  Atlantic  Coast 
Line,  from  Florence  to  Cheraw  (40  miles)  was  chartered  in  1849 
and  opened  November  29. 

“The  culture  of  sea-island  cotton  as  conducted  in  South 
Carolina,”  said  William  Elliott,  “exacts  a vast  amount  of  labor 
and  attention.  Small  beds,  parallel  to  each  other  and  4i/^  feet 
from  center  to  center,  are  thrown  up  by  the  plow  in  February. 
Lender,  or  in  these  the  manures  are  deposited;  and  in  March  and 
April  layer  beds  are  raised  in  the  first.  After  the  plants  have 
appeared  above  the  surface  they  have  to  be  weeded  and  thinned, 
and  as  many  as  six  plowings  or  hoeings  are  required  during  the 
season  of  culture,  which  extends  from  April  to  August.  Then 
comes  the  gathering,  sorting,  ginning,  cleaning  and  packing  away 
in  bales.  The  product  varies  from  120  to  150  lbs.  of  cleaned  cotton 
to  the  acre,  and  from  3 to  5 acres  are  cultivated  to  each  laborer.” 

At  this  time  no  sea-island  cotton  was  consumed  in  the  United 
States. 

The  North  Eastern  Railroad,  now  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line, 
from  Charleston  to  Florence  (102  miles)  was  chartered  in  1851, 
and  completed  November  10. 

1858. — The  phrase,  “Cotton  is  King,”  originated  with  the 
United  States  Senator  Hammond  (of  S.  C.)  who  made  use  of 
it  in  a speech  delivered  in  the  Senate  this  year. 

The  largest  crop  produced  by  any  county  in  the  State  was 
that  of  Edgefield,  26,522  bales. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
South  Carolina,  1860-1869 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1860-61 

Bales 

2.52, .540 

Bales 

9,843 

No  data 

No  data 

1861-62 

No  data 

No  data 

do 

do 

1862-63 

do 

do 

do 

do 

186.3-64 

do 

do 

do 

do 

1864^65 

do 

do 

do 

do 

186.3-66 

do 

do 

do 

do 

1866-67 

115,873 

8,085 

do 

do 

1867-68 

2.32,059 

9,114 

do 

do 

1868-69 

185.409 

8,820 

do 

do 

1.869-70 

224.500 

10,811 

12 

.34,940 

KING  COTTON 


85 


1860. — The  Charleston  & Savannah  Railway,  now  a part 
of  the  Plant  System,  (106  miles)  was  chartered  in  1853  and 
completed  October  26. 

There  were  973  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this  year. 

1861 — ^Adjutant  General  Thomas  instructed  Gen.  Sherman 
to  take  possession  of  all  cotton  on  the  islands  in  Beaufort  county 
and  ship  it  to  New  York,  to  be  sold  there  for  Government 
account  ; also  to  use  the  negro  slaves  to  gather  the  crop.  The 
first  sale  bv  auction  of  confiscated  cotton  under  this  order  took 
place  at  New  York,  and  it  brought  nearly  60  cents  a pound. 

1863. — Liverpool  cotton  brokers  estimated  that  131,776  bales 
of  cotton  had  arrived  in  England  from  Charleston,  Wilming- 
ton, Mobile,  Savannah  and  Texas,  and  during  the  first  six  months 
of  1864  the  amount  was  put  at  almost  the  same  figure.  During 
the  last  six  months  of  1864,  11,796  bales  of  cotton  were  shipped 
from  southern  ports. 

1866. — The  tax  on  cotton  collected  in  the  State  by  the 
Federal  Government  was  $731,940,  and  in  1867,  $1,429,281. 

One  of  the  methods  of  contracting  for  labor  on  the  planta- 
tion where  the  laborer  furnished  his  own  rations,  was  to  allow 
the  laborer  one-third  of  the  crop,  the  planter  furnishing  lands, 
mules  and  implements.  This  was  also  a common  custom  in  other 
States  at  this  period. 

1868.  — The  tax  on  cotton  collected  by  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment was  $2,011,199. 

The  caterpillar  damaged  the  crop  more  than  in  any  previous 
year.  The  Newberry  District  reported  a loss  of  one-third  of 
the  crop. 

1869.  — The  cotton  worm  destroyed  a portion  of  the  sea-island 
crop. 

Particular  attention  began  to  be  paid  to  selecting  improved 
varieties  of  seed. 

The  discovery  of  the  rich  phosphate  beds  about  Charleston 
attracted  the  attention  of  the  State  Agricultural  and  Mechanical 
Society. 

M.  C.  Hammond,  of  Beach  Island,  reported  the  following 
yield  per  acre  in  pounds  of  seed  cotton  from  the  use  of  several 
kinds  of  fertilizers : Dickson  Compound,  1,258 ; Gardiner’s 


86 


SOUTH  CAROLINA 


Manipulated,  1,278;  Patapsco,  1,058;  Baugh's  raw  bone,  1,012; 
Peruvian  guano,  999  • Wilcox  and  Gibbs  Manipulated,  988 ; and 
when  no  fertilizer  was  used,  481  pounds  to  the  acre. 

Darlington  county  made  the  largest  crop  this  year,  35,591 
bales. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
South  Carolina,  1870-1879 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1870-71 

Bales 

348,000 

Bales 

11,830 

No  data 

No  data 

1871-72 

265,000 

16,600 

1872-73 

260.000 

16.691 

1873-74 

350,000 

15,376 

18 

62. 87^^ 

1874-75 

360.000 

19,945 

18 

70.282 

No  data 

1875-76 

3.30,000 

23,852 

1876-77 

310.000 

390.000 
342,173 

22,606 

26.878 

1877-78 

1878-79 

33,108 

do 

1879-80 

522,548 

33,624 

14 

82,424 

1870. — One  of  the  well  known  varieties  of  upland  cotton,  the 
“Peterkin,”  was  originated  about  this  time  by  J.  A.  Peterkin  of 
Fort  Motte. 

J.  W.  Crawford,  of  Richland  county,  obtained  a premium 
from  the  State  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  Society  for  a crop 
on  five  acres  that  yielded  12,510  lbs.  of  seed  cotton,  averaging 
2,502  lbs.  of  lint.  The  land  was  fertilized  with  guano,  plaster, 
ashes  and  stable  manure,  at  a cost  of  $16.40  per  acre. 

There  were  1,139  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this  year. 

1872.  — The  crop  was  considerably  damaged  by  the  caterpillar. 

The  Charleston  Cotton  Exchange  was  incorporated  in  March 

1876.  It  was  originally  organized  in  1872  as  the  “Charleston 
Exchange.” 

During  the  year  3,335  bales  of  cotton  were  shipped  from 
Mobile  to  Charleston. 

1873.  — The  Atlanta  & Charlotte  Air  Line  Railroad,  now 
the  Southern  Railway,  from  Charlotte,  North  Carolina,  via 
Spartanburg  and  Greenville  to  Atlanta  (286%  miles)  was  com- 
pleted and  opened  for  traffic  September  26. 

The  Port  Royal  & Augusta  Railroad,  now  the  Atlantic 


KING  COTTON 


87 


Coast  Line,  from  Augusta  to  Port  Royal  (112  miles)  was 
chartered  in  1856  and  completed  November  1. 

1876. — In  Marion  county,  on  4 acres,  one  planter  made  10 
bales.  In  Newberry  county  a planter  produced  400  lbs.  of  lint 
per  acre  on  gray  sandy  soil,  manured  with  acid  phosphate,  stable 
and  compost  manure ; profit  33  per  cent. ; 106  bales  were  raised 
on  120  acres. 

1879. — For  the  first  time  the  crop  exceeded  500,000  bales. 

Edgefield  county  reported  the  highest  total  production,  33,- 
894  bales,  and  Marlboro  county  the  highest  yield  per  acre,  .58 
of  a bale. 

The  Department  of  Agriculture  estimated  the  loss  from  the 
ravages  of  the  cotton  worm  from  1865  to  1878,  inclusive,  at 
224,500  bales. 


Co.\iMERCi.\L  Crops  and  Consu.mption  of  Cotton  in 
South  Carolina,  1880-1889 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1880-81 

Bales 

592.658 

Bales 

46,147 

70.344 

1881-82 

469.000 

18S2-83 

630,000 

469.600 

76,716 

83.334 

1883-84 

26 

1884-85 

511.800 

29 

1885-86 

554.652 

03.383 

29 

1886-87 

498.367 

97.538 

31 

217.761 

1887-88 

595,342 

.552.248 

747,190 

106.080 

32 

240,149 

1888-89 

124.459 

35 

278,000 

.332,784 

1889-90 

1.33.342 

34 

1880.  — There  were  1,427  miles  of  railway  in  operation. 

The  Chester  & Lenoir  Railroad,  now  the  Southern  Rail- 
way, from  Chester  to  Lenoir,  N.  C.  (109  miles),  was  partly  built 
in  1852  and  1873,  and  opened  to  Lincolnton  during  this  year. 

The  Cheraw  & Chester  Railroad,  now  the  Lancaster  & 
Chester  (31  miles)  was  completed  this  year. 

1881.  — The  Department  of  Agriculture  estimated  a loss  of 
10,233  bales  of  cotton  from  boll-worms. 

1882.  — The  Augusta  & Knoxville  Railroad,  now  the 
Southern  Railway,  from  Augusta  to  Greenwood  (68  miles)  was 
completed  about  May  1. 

The  Central  Railroad  of  South  Carolina,  now  the  Atlantic 


88 


SOUTH  CAROLINA 


Coast  Line,  from  Lanes  to  Sumter  (4:0  miles)  was  opened 
April  1. 

The  Charleston  News  and  Courier  contained  this  item : 
“Messrs.  George  H.  Walter  & Co.  have  received  from  Laurens 
county  a bale  of  cotton  reported  to  have  been  grown  in  1853. 
The  bale  has  about  the  usual  appearance,  although  nearl}'  thirty 
years  old,  with  one  of  the  first  rope  bands  still  remaining.  This 
cotton  soon  after  the  close  of  the  war  could  have  been  sold  for 
50  cents  per  pound,  and  as  the  bale  is  one  of  a lot  of  14  the 
amount  lost  was  large.  A sample  was  exhibited  at  the  Exchange 
which  was  looked  at  as  a curiosity.  It  was  about  good  middling 
in  appearance,  and  had  not  suffered  much  by  the  action  of 
time.” 

1883.  — A patent  for  a cotton  picking  machine  was  granted 
to  Charles  T.  Mason,  Jr.,  of  Sumter  (October  2).  A few  years 
afterwards.  Mason  built  a machine  that  attracted  more  attention 
than  any  other  up  to  the  time  of  its  exhibition  for  field  work. 
In  1887  he  constructed  a new  machine  which  he  said  he  found 
by  actual  experiment  in  the  field  was  a successful  cotton  harvester, 
though  best  adapted  to  cotton  of  low  growth. 

At  this  time,  there  were  23  cotton  mills,  and  28  cotton  oil 
mills,  in  operation  in  the  State. 

The  Georgetown  & Lane  Railroad,  now  the  Georgetown  & 
Western,  from  Georgetown  to  Lanes  (37  miles)  was  completed 
and  opened  this  year. 

1884.  — The  crop  in  some  sections  was  seriously  damaged  by 
boll-worms. 

The  crop  was  greatly  injured  by  drought  that  prevailed 
over  nearly  the  entire  State  during  the  month  of  September. 

According  to  the  Charleston  News  and  Courier,  there  were 
this  year  29  cotton  mills  in  operation  that  consumed  76,416  bales 
of  cotton  of  an  average  weight  of  500  pounds  each. 

1885.  — Drought  in  August  injured  the  crop. 

1886.  — The  Asheville  & Spartanburg  Railroad,  now  the 
Southern  Railway,  from  Asheville  to  Spartanburg  (71  miles) 
was  built  from  Spartanburg  to  Henderson  in  1879  and  com- 
pleted through  to  Asheville  July  13. 

1888. — The  Georgia,  Carolina  & Northern  Railroad,  now  the 


KING  COTTON 


89 


Seaboard  Air  Line,  from  Monroe,  N.  C.,  to  Atlanta  (268  miles), 
passing  through  the  State,  east  and  west,  was  completed  in 
October. 

1889. — Barnwell  county — according  to  the  Census — had  the 
largest  cotton  acreage,  134,931  acres,  and  Abbeville  county  the 
largest  total  production,  50,241  bales. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
South  Carolina,  1890-1899 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1S90-91 

Bales 

859,000 

Bales 

164.814 

44 

415,158 

1891-92 

780,000 

183,625 

47 

467,825 

1892-93 

635,000 

200,219 

51 

503,269 

1893-94 

650.000 

215,228 

51 

569.033 

1894-95 

862,604 

229.580 

48 

619.849 

1895-96 

764.700 

257,700 

58 

802,854 

1896-97 

936,463 

297.782 

73 

1,050,198 

1897-98 

1.0.30.085 

398.456 

76 

1,205,272 

1898-99 

1,035,414 

466,181 

80 

1,285,328 

1899-00 

876.545 

489.559 

93 

1,693,649 

1890. — What  may  be  accomplished  by  the  intensive  methods 
of  agriculture  is  well  illustrated  by  Harry  Hammond,  of  Beach 
Island : “The  lands  of  Marlboro  county  were  thought  to  be 
exhausted  in  the  early  part  of  this  century,  and  numbers  of  the 
population  emigrated  to  the  fresh  lands  of  Alabama.  A great 
change  has  taken  place  in  that  county  in  recent  years.  Very 
little  of  the  land  now  lies  fallow.  Cropping  is  continuous,  and 
there  is  a systematic  rotation  of  crops.  Cotton  is  planted  on  the 
same  land  every  fourth  year.  Green  manuring  with  the  cowpea 
sown  broadcast  has  been  extensively  practised,  and,  when  cotton 
is  laid  by,  peas  are  often  drilled  between  the  rows  where  the 
beds  for  the  next  year’s  cotton  crop  are  to  be  thrown  up.  All 
of  the  cotton  seed,  or  its  equivalent  in  meal,  is  returned  to  the 
soil,  either  alone  or  composted  with  stable  manure,  woods 
mold,  and  superphosphate  of  lime.  In  1880  an  average  of 
$4.77  per  acre  for  each  acre  in  cotton  was  expended  in  commer- 
cial fertilizers.  In  1890,  in  this  county,  32,306  bales  were  pro- 
duced on  58,836  acres,  or  very  nearly  a bale  to  1.8  acres,  a yield 
not  exceeded  anywhere  except  in  the  alluvium  of  the  Mississippi 
river.” 


90 


SOUTH  CAROLINA 


There  were  2,229  miles  of  railway  in  operation. 

The  Ohio  River  & Charlotte  Railroad,  now  the  Southern 
Railway,  from  Camden  to  Marion,  North  Carolina  (174  miles), 
was  completed  about  this  time. 

1891.  — With  the  view  of  reducing  the  cotton  areage,  Harry 
Hammond,  in  an  address  to  the  Beach  Island  Farmers’  Club, 
proposed  a law  requiring  planters  to  take  out  a license  at  $1.50 
per  acre  for  all  lands  put  in  cotton,  the  license  to  serve  as  a 
receipt  against  all  other  taxes.  His  idea  was  to  make  the  law 
uniform  in  all  the  cotton  growing  States. 

The  South  Bound  Railroad,  now  the  Seaboard  Air  Line,  from 
Columbia  to  Savannah  (142  miles)  was  chartered  in  1887  and 
completed  in  September. 

1892.  — The  crops  were  injured  by  cotton  lice. 

1893.  — Mason’s  cotton  picking  machine  was  given  a field 
test  this  year. 

In  reply  to  some  questions  of  the  United  States  Senate  Com- 
mittee on  Agriculture,  Charles  A.  Barry,  of  Spartanburg,  stated 
that  the  establishment  of  cotton  mills  in  the  State  had  enhanced 
the  price  of  the  raw  material  to  a considerable  extent.  Other 
planters  testified  that  prices  had  been  improved  by  the  building 
of  mills  in  the  State. 

1895.  — The  decadence  in  the  production  of  sea-island  cotton, 
said  F.  S.  Shiver,  in  a bulletin  issued  by  the  State  Experiment 
Station,  was  due  to  the  fact  that  in  recent  years  the  cultivation 
of  sea-island  cotton  had  been  largely  in  the  hands  of  small  negro 
farmers,  who,  true  to  their  natural  instincts,  take  no  interest 
whatever  in  the  improvement  of  the  staple  or  in  securing  a greater 
yield  per  acre,  but  are  satisfied  so  long  as  they  can  eke  out  an 
existence.  It  would  appear,  however,  that  in  very  recent  years, 
the  cultivation  of  the  crop  was  being  resumed  by  intelligent 
planters. 

1896.  — David  Ravel,  of  Batesburg,  obtained  a patent  for  a 
.cotton  picking  device,  the  pickers  being  adjusted  to  rotating 
spindles  which  work  back  and  forth  into  the  plant. . 

The  Columbia,  Newberry  & Laurens  Railroad,  from  Colum- 
bia to  Laurens  (75  miles)  was  chartered  in  1885  and  completed 
early  in  this  year. 


KING  COTTON 


91 


As  ascertained  by  the  Department  of  Agriculture  the  average 
cost  of  raising  a pound  of  upland  cotton  was  4.87  cents,  and  of 
sea-island  cotton  15.78  cents  per  pound. 

1898.  — The  largest  crop  in  the  history  of  the  State  to  date, 
1,035,414  bales,  was  produced  this  3'ear, 

The  Charleston  Cotton  Exchange  recommended  24  x 54  inches 
as  the  standard  size  for  cotton  bales,  and  also  that  bagging 
weighing  2 pounds  to  the  yard  be  used. 

In  a communication  to  the  New  York  Commercial  and  Finan- 
cial Chronicle,  J.  W.  Earle,  of  Holland,  stated  that  the  develop- 
ment of  the  Charleston  phosphate  beds  had  been  the  making  of  the 
Piedmont  region  of  the  Carolinas  and  Georgia.  Previous  to  the 
war  there  was  ver\^  little  cotton  made  in  Anderson  county,  and 
none  in  Oconee,  and  Pickens  counties,  and  the  other  northern 
half  of  Greenville  county.  Now  it  was  made  quite  up  to  the  foot 
of  the  Blue  Ridge.  The  guano  made  it  mature  and  open  before 
the  frost  kills  it.  “We  make  more  clear  money  now  at  5 cents,” 
said  Mr.  Earle,  “than  we  did  before  the  war  at  10  cents.  The 
cultivation  has  been  so  much  improved  or  simplified,  that  we  make 
from  10  to  30  bales  to  the  mule,  against  5 and  10  before  the 
war.  One  of  my  neighbors  made  in  three  years,  26  and  28  and 
33  bales  to  the  mule,  besides  making  corn  enough  to  do  him.  He 
made  412  bales  of  cotton  on  400  acres.  His  cotton  crop  was 
-all  clear  money  and  it  brought  him  over  $15,000.” 

Six  varieties  of  cotton  planted  at  the  State  Experiment  Sta- 
tion showing  the  highest  yield  of  lint  cotton  per  acre  were,  in 
the  order  named: — -Texas  Oak,  Bates’  Improved  Prolific,  Drake’s 
Cluster,  Excelsior,  Peerless  and  King’s  Improved. 

1899.  — During  this  \"ear  134,741  farmers  engaged  in  the 
cultivation  of  2,074,081  acres  of  cotton,  from  which  was  pro- 
duced 421,862,069  pounds  of  lint,  or  an  average  of  203  pounds 
to  the  acre.  The  counties  reporting  the  largest  area  were  Ander- 
son. Orangeburg,  Laurens,  Abbeville,  Sumter  and  Spartanburg, 
ranking  in  the  order  named.  Orangeburg  county  reported  the 
highest  total  production,  65,149  bales. 

There  were  2,791j4  miles  of  railway  in  operation. 

According  to  the  Census  there  were  in  operation  this  year 
3,368  cotton  gins ; in  1900  there  were  3,193,  and  in  1901  3,018. 


92 


SOUTH  CAROLINA 


The  average  output  of  each  gin  during  each  season  was,  respec- 
tively, 260,  245  and  243  bales.  The  average  cost  for  baling  and 
ginning  square  bales  of  upland  cotton  in  1899  was  $1.29  and  round 
bales  $1.00,  and  sea-island  cotton  $7.34  per  bale. 

The  cotton  mills  of  Spartanburg  county  consumed  this  year 
144,026  bales,-  which  placed  it  far  in  the  lead  of  any  county 
in  the  South  in  the  domestic  consumption  of  the  staple.  The 
mills  of  Anderson  county  consumed  41,180  bales,  and  those  of 
Greenville  county  54,793,  total  239,999.  The  production  of  Spar- 
tanburg county  was  36,739,  of  Anderson  39,615,  and  of  Green- 
ville 26,809  bales,  total  103,163  bales. 


Commercial  Crop  and  Consumption  of  Cotton 
IN  South  Carolina,  1900-1908 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1900-01 

Bales 

7S0.7S2 

Bales 

501,290 

115 

1.908,692 

1901-02 

732,719 

607,906 

127 

2.246,926 

1902-03 

948.200 

587,126 

136 

2,479,521 

1903-04 

814..35I 

603,819 

129 

2.965,747 

1904-05 

1,192.925 

658,019 

134 

3.296,194 

1905-06 

1,112,363 

691,663 

136 

3,.355,010 

1906-07 

912,602 

695,682 

140 

3.625,874 

1907-08 

1,163,565 

640,376 

141 

3,686,150 

1900.  — There  were  in  operation  forty-eight  oil  mills  that  con- 
sumed 156,642  tons  of  seed  valued  at  $2,186,408.  Of  the  seed 
produced  in  the  State  37.4  per  cent,  was  manufactured  into  oil 
products  valued  at  $3,043,547. 

By  a process  of  carefully  selected  seed  from  the  best 
plants,  W.  G.  Hinson,  of  St.  James  Island,  succeeded  in  producing 
a quality  of  sea-island  cotton  that  commanded  three  times  as 
much  as  the  ordinary  variety. 

The  first  new  bale  was  received  at  Charleston,  August  8 ; in 
1899,  August  7 ; in  1898,  August  10 ; in  1897,  August  3 ; in  1896, 
July  30;  and  in  1895,  August  21. 

1901.  — Columbia  organized  a Cotton  and  Produce  Exchange, 

1902. - — The  total  valuation  of  textile  plants  in  the  State  was 
$32,210,818.  The  year  following  the  valuation  increased  to 
$34,923,740. 


KING  COTTON 


93 


1903.  — Floods  in  the  Pacolet  river,  in  June,  destroyed  several 
cotton  mills  at  Pacolet,  Clifton  and  Converse,  entailing  a loss  of 
about  $6,000,000. 

The  stocks  at  interior  towns  (not  including  mill  stocks)  at 
the  close  of  the  season,  August  31,  were  the  smallest  for  many 
years,  and  amounted  to  less  than  1,500  bales. 

Twelve  hundred  bales  of  cotton  were  shipped  by  a special 
train  from  Charleston  to  New  York,  September  22,  to  take 
advantage  of  the  high  prices  paid  in  the  latter  market.  The 
cost  of  the  chartered  train  was  $1:,800. 

Herbert  S.  Weber,  in  a report  published  by  the  Department 
of  Agriculture,  noting  the  results  of  some  experiments  at  Colum- 
bia with  Egyptian  cotton  seed,  said:  “It  is  safe  to  estimate 
that  the  cotton  crop  would  be  doubled  on  the  same  acreage  as  now 
grown  by  proper  attention  to  the  two  factors  so  necessary  to  suc- 
cess, namely,  the  universal  use  of  good  seed,  and  careful  methods 
of  tillage  and  fertilization.” 

1904.  — The  first  new  bale  was  received  at  Charleston  from 
Bamberg  August  13.  In  1903  the  first  bale  was  sent  to  Augusta 
on  the  same  date. 

1906.  — Congressman  Ellerbe  (of  S.  C.)  introduced  a resolu- 
tion in  the  House  reciting  that  the  Department  of  Agriculture’s 
estimate  of  28,686,000  acres  planted  in  cotton  this  season  was 
not  warranted,  and  directing  the  Secretary  to  furnish  the  House 
with  all  the  information  upon  which  the  estimate  was  based. 

1907.  — The  Legislature  passed  an  act  prohibiting  all  sales  of 
cotton  for  future  delivery. 

Dr.  Y’.  C.  Irby,  of  Laurens,  raised  23  bales  of  IMississippi 
long  staple  cotton  on  33  acres,  which  he  sold  in  February  for 
$2,295. 

According  to  the  Census  there  were  3,192  cotton  gins  in  oper- 
ation, the  average  output  of  each  gin  being  365  bales. 

There  were  101  cotton  oil  mills  in  the  State  that  consumed 
220,071  tons  of  seed  costing  $4,562,072.  The  value  of  the  prod- 
ucts, including  linters,  was  $5,941,881. 


CHAPTER  V 


Georgia,  and  its  Cotton  Crops  from  1800  to  1908^ — Number 
OF  Cotton  Miles  and  Spindles  and  Domestic  Con- 
sumption OP  Cotton — Historical  Data  Relating  to 
Cotton  Production. 

While  it  was  the  purpose  of  the  founders  of  the  Georgia 
Colony  to  make  it  chiefly  a silk  and  wine  producing  country,  they 
indulged  in  the  hope  that  other  staple  products,  among  them 
cotton,  would  be  produced.  This  is  evidenced  in  one  of  Ogle- 
thorpe’s letters  in  which  he  says  England  will  become  the  Colony's 
market  “for  great  quantities  of  raw  silk,  and  perhaps,  for  wine, 
oil,  cotton,  drugs,  dyeing  stuffs,  and  many  other  -lesser  com- 
modities.” Nor  was  it  long  before  experiments  began  to  be  made 
in  growing  cotton.  Seed  were  sent  out  from  England  and  as 
early  as  1734,  the  Saltzbergers  who  settled  on  the  Savannah  river 
at  Ebenezer,  21  miles  from  Savannah,  experimented  in  its  culture. 

The  year  following  Francis  Moore  visited  Savannah  and  saw 
it  growing  there. 

There  is  to  be  found  in  a pamphlet  entitled  “A  State  of  the 
Province  of  Georgia,  attested  under  oath  in  a Court  of  Savannah,” 
and  published  in  1740,  the  statement  that  “large  quantities  (of 
cotton)  had  been  raised  and  it  is  much  planted;  but  the  cotton 
which  in  some  parts  is  perennial,  dies  here  in  the  winter,  which, 
nevertheless,  the  annual  is  not  inferior  to  in  its  goodness,  but 
requires  more  trouble  in  cleansing  from  the  seed.”  In  “A  Des- 
cription of  Georgia,  by  a gentleman  who  has  resided  there  upward 
of  seven  years  and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers,”  published  in 
London  in  1741,  it  is  stated  that,  “the  annual  cotton  grows  well 
there,  and  has  been  by  some  industrious  people  made  into  clothes.” 

In  “An  important  inquiry  into  the  state  and  utility  of  Georgia,” 
published  in  1741,  Samuel  Seabrook  the  author,  in  a description 
of  St.  Simons  Island,  says  the  country  was  cultivated,  and  that 
on  several  small  parcels  of  land  granted  to  the  soldiers  of  General 


94 


KING  COTTON 


95 


Oglethorpe’s  regiment,  “the  soldiers  raised  cotton  and  their  wives 
spin  it  and  knit  it  into  stockings.” 

There  is  said  to  be  among  the  records  of  the  Habersham 
family  a letter  extant  which  shows  that  James  Habersham  cul- 
tivated the  upland  cotton  at  Bethesda  as  early  at  1742,  and  that 
in  1754  he  shipped  20  bales  of  cotton  to  Liverpool  through  his 
agent  John  Dillon. 

In  a letter  addressed  by  the  Georgia  office  in  London,  in  1749, 
to  the  governor  of  Georgia  is  the  following ; 

“You  sa}^  sir,  likewise  in  your  letter  that  the  people  of  Vernon- 
burg  and  Acton  are  giving  visible  appearance  of  revising  their 
industry;  that  they  are  propagating  large  quantities  of  flax  and 
cotton,  and  that  they  are  provided  with  weavers,  who  have  already 
wove  several  large  pieces  of  cloth  of  a useful  sort,  whereof  they 
sold  divers,  and  some  they  made  use  of  in  their  own  families.” 

Before  the  Revolutionary  War,  Col.  Delegall  had  in  cultiva- 
tion 22  acres  of  cotton  on  one  of  the  small  islands  near  Savannah, 
the  green  seed  or  short  staple  being  the  variety  planted. 

The  origin  of  the  various  short  staple  varieties  of  cotton  first 
introduced  is  somewhat  obscure.  Seed  from  Jamacia  and  Per- 
nambuco were  imported  into  Georgia  in  1786,  and  some  of  un- 
known variety  had  been  previously  sent  out  from  England.  But 
as  to  the  origin  of  the  sea-island,  the  finest  and  most  valuable 
cotton  in  the  world,  we  know  that  it  originally  came  from 
Anguilla,  one  of  the  West  India  islands  celebrated  for  its  fine 
cotton,  and  that  it  was  introduced  into  Georgia  directly  from  the 
Bahama  Islands  in  1786.  Thomas  Spalding,  of  Sapelo  Island, 
wrote  this  account  of  it; 

“The  winter  of  1786  brought  several  parcels  of  cotton  seed 
from  the  Bahamas  to  Georgia.  Among  them  was  a parcel  to 
Governor  Tatnall  from  a relation  of  his,  then  Surveyor  General 
of  the  Bahamas,  and  then  another  parcel  was  transmitted  at  the 
same  time  by  Col.  Roger  Kelsal  of  Exuma  (who  was  among  the 
first,  if  not  the  very  first,  successful  growers  of  cotton),  to  my 
father  Mr.  James  Spalding,  then  residing  in  St.  Simon’s  Island, 
Ga.,  who  had  been  connected  in  business  with  Col.  Kelsal  before 
the  Revolution.  I have  heard  that  Governor  Tatnall,  then  a young 


^ William  X.  Habersham,  in  a communication  to  Savannah  Morning  News. 


96 


GEORGIA 


man,  gave  his  seed  to  Mr.  Nichol  Trumbull,  who  cultivated  it 
from  that  period  successfully.  My  father  planted  his  cotton 
seed  in  the  spring  of  1787  upon  the  banks  of  a small  rice  field,  on 
St.  Simon’s  Island.  The  land  was  rich  and  warm ; the  cotton  grew 
and  blossomed,  but  did  not  open  its  fruit.  It,  however,  ratooned 
or  grew  from  the  roots  the  following  year.  The  difficulty  was  now 
over.  The  cotton  adapted  itself  to  the  climate,  and  every  suc- 
cessive year  from  1787  saw  the  long  staple  cotton  extending  itself 
along  the  shores  of  Georgia  and  South  Carolina,  where  an  en- 
lightened population,  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  indigo,  readily 
adopted  it.  All  of  the  varieties  of  the  long  staple,  or  at  least  die 
germ  of  those  varieties  came  from  that  seed.” 

As  in  other  cotton  regions  Georgia  planters  experienced  great 
difficulties  in  separating  the  lint  from  the  seed.  In  1788  Richard 
Leake,  Esq.,  sent  some  samples  of  cotton  from  Savannah  to  the 
“Philadelphia  Society  for  Encouraging  Manufactures.”  He 
stated  that  he  would  make  5,000  pounds  in  the  seed  on  about 
8 acres,  and  that  he  expected  to  plant  the  next  year  50  to  100 
acres  if  suitable  encouragement  was  given.  He  requested  that 
a gin  be  sent  out  to  him,  which  he  understood  could  be  purchased 
in  Philadelphia,  and  that  it  would  clean  30  to  40  pounds  of  cotton 
in  a day. 

At  this  time  nothing  but  hand  gins  were  in  use.  They  were 
constructed  with  two  small  rollers  revolving  in  opposite  direc- 
tions, but  would  clean  only  about  25  pounds  of  cotton  per  day. 
A few  years  later  (1790)  the  treadle  or  foot  gin,  which  had 
been  greatly  improved  by  Joseph  Eve,  of  Providence,  R.  L,  was 
introduced.  It  could  be  worked  either  by  horse  or  water  power. 

In  179'3,  Eli  Whitney,  a native  of  Connecticut,  while  a teacher 
in  the  family  of  the  late  General  Green,  near  Savannah,  invented 
his  famous  gin,  for  which  he  obtained  a patent  the  following 
year.  “In  the  State  of  Georgia  where  he  worked,”  says  Prof. 
Brooks,  “he  received  no  compensation  as  the  inventor  of  the 
gin,  it  being-  alleged  that  Joseph  Watkins,  a planter  of  large 
means  and  influence,  had  devised  the  same  machine  for  separa- 
ting the  seed  and  lint  of  upland  cotton,  and  that  Whitney  had 
visited  IMr.  Watkins  and  seen  his  machine  in  successful  operation 
before  he  had  produced  one  of  his  own.  It  is  probable  that  the 


KING  COTTON 


97 


main  idea  on  which  the  cotton  gin  is  founded  was  original  with 
Joseph  Watkins,  but  it  is  also  probable  that  the  same  idea  was 
equally  original  with  Whitney.  Both  of  these  men  drove  spikes 
made  from  wire  into  wooden  cylinders,  and  while  this  plan  was 
best  known  at  the  time,  it  remained  for  Ogden  Holmes  (of  South 
Carolina)  to  cut  a saw  from  a sheet  of  metal,  and  dispense 
altogether  with  the  wooden  cylinder  and  spikes.”^ 

It  is  worthy  of  record  that  the  very  year  this  invention  came 
with  its  bountiful  promise  of  prosperity  and  wealth,  one  of  the 
greatest  enemies  of  the  cotton  plant  first  made  its  appearance  in 
this  country.  The  cotton  worm  for  the  first  time  invaded  the 
fields  of  Georgia  and  South  Carolina  causing  great  damage.  Its 
destruction  was  so  great  it  was  said  that,  “on  one  field  of  400 
acres  only  18  bags  were  made.” 

During  the  first  decade,  1800-1810,  the  largest  crop  produced 
was  98,000  bales.  In  the  succeeding  decades  the  increase  was 
as  follows:  1810-1820,  165,000;  1820-1830,  262,000;  1830-1840, 
450,000 ; 1840-1850,  594,000  bales.  The  largest  crop  produced 
before  the  Civil  War  was  702,000  bales  in  1859. 

The  first  crop  made  after  the  war  (1866)  was  233,000  bales 
which  was  less  than  the  crop  of  1825.  It  was  in  1879,  or  fourteen 
years  after  the  war,  before  the  production  was  again  equal  to  that 
of  1859.  In  1880  over  1,000,000  bales  were  made,  and  in  the 
decade  1890-1900  this  was  increased  to  1,379,000  bales. 

In  1879  the  area  in  cotton,  according  to  the  Census,  was 

2.617.000  acres.  The  estimate  of  the  department  of  x\griculture 
for  1904  was  4,227,000  acres,  showing  an  increase  since  1879 
of  1,610,000,  or  about  62  per  cent.  The  production  in  1879  was 

814.000  and  in  1904  1,968,000  bales,  an  increase  of  1,154,000  bales 
or  nearly  142,  the  increased  production  being  80  greater  than 
the  increased  area.  On  the  basis  of  the  Census  acreage  for  1879 
and  that  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture  for  1906,  (4,728,000) 
the  increase  would  be  2,111,000  acres,  or  80  per  cent. : while  the 
increase  in  production  for  the  same  period  would  be  821,000 
bales  or  100  per  cent.,  the  increased  production  being  20  per  cent, 
greater  than  the  increased  area.  These  figures  would  indicate 


^ Cotton,  Its  Uses,  Varieties,  Etc.  Brooks  (1898). 
7 


98 


GEORGIA 


that  the  Agricultural  Department’s  estimated  acreage  for  1904 
was  much  too  small. 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  Georgia,  1S00-1S09 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1800-01 

53000 

64000 

65000 

60000 

72000 

1805-06 

95.000 

75.000 

71.000 

98.000 

94.000 

1801-02 

1806-07 

1802-03 

1807-08 

1803-04 

1808-09 

1804-05 

1809-10 

1800.  — The  cotton  worm  made  its  appearance  and  damaged 
the  crop. 

1801.  — A special  invesigation  of  insects  injurious  to  the  cotton 
plant  ascertained  that  the  cotton  worm,  or  caterpillar,  was  first 
introduced  by  French  planters  emigrating  from  Martinique  and 
other  French  West  Indies  to  Georgia  during  this  year  and  1802, 

1802.  — Georgia  ceded  to  the  Federal  government  all  her  lands 
west  of  the  Chattahoochee  river,  embracing  nearly  100,000  square 
miles  of  territory,  the  greater  part  of  the  present  States  of 
Alabama  and  Mississippi. 

1804. — The  cotton  worm  destroyed  a large  portion  of  the  crop. 

1807.  — Eli  Whitney,  inventor  of  the  cotton  gin,  brought  suit 
in  a Savannah  court  to  sustain  the  validity  of  his  patent. 

1808.  — An  item  in  the 'Savannah  Republican  stated  that  at 
this  time  Kentucky  bagging  was  in  use  in  Georgia.  It  was 
recommended  to  the  planters  because  it  was  cheaper  than  English 
bagging  and  was  of  home  production. 

1809.  — A small  horse-power  cotton  mill  began  operations  this 
year  at  Louisville. 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  Georgia,  lSlO-1819 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1810-11 

68,180 

82,124 

1815-16 

121,006 

1811-12 

1816-17 

125,241 

1812-13 

78,344 

75,000 

1817-18 

11 9, .342 
158,000 

1813-14 

1818-19 

1814-15 

98,268 

1819-20 

165,000 

1810. — A writer  in  the  Southern  Cultivator  said  that  the 
first  cotton  seed  used  in  Georgia  was  the  black  seed.  It  was 


KING  COTTON 


99 


subject  to  rot  and  was  supplanted  in  1810  by  the  Tennessee  green 
seed,  which  yielded  more  in  lint  and  stood  the  climate  better 
without  rotting,  but  was  harder  to  pick,  from  75  to  100  pounds 
being  a good  day’s  picking. 

1811. — The  first  cotton  mill  of  any  consequence  in  the  State 
was  known  as  the  “Bolton  Factory,”  and  was  built  this  year  on 
Upton  Creek,  9 miles  southeast  of  Washington,  in  Wilkes  county. 
It  was  60  feet  by  10,  two  stories,  attic  and  basement,  and  was 
constructed  of  brownstone. 

1815. — The  crop  for  the  first  time  exceeded  100,000  bales. 

1819. — The  American  steamship  “Savannah,”  built  by  Croker 
and  Fickett,  at  Corlear’s  Flook  in  the  City  of  New  York,  was  the 
first  steam-propelled  vessel  that  ever  crossed  the  Atlantic  ocean. 
The  “Savannah,”  said  to  have  been  built  for  the  cotton  trade, 
w'as  a vessel  of  380  tons,  ship-rigged,  and  was  furnished  with 
a horizontal  engine,  placed  between  decks — the  boilers  in  the 
lower  hold.  The  vessel  was  launched  August  22,  1818,  and  her 
first  voyage  was  from  New  York  to  Savannah,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Capt.  Moses  Rogers,  at  which  port  she  arrived  April 
19,  after  a seven  days’  passage.  On  the  25th  of  May  she  left 
Savannah  for  St.  Petersburg,  via  Liverpool,  arriving  at  the  latter 
port  in  25  days’  passage.  No  further  successful  attempts  were 
made  to  cross  the  ocean  with  steam  vessels  until  the  “Sirius” 
and  “Great  Western”  arrived  in  New  York  from  England,  in 
April,  1838. 


C0MMERCI.A.L  Cotton  Crops  of  Georgia,  1820-1829 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1820-21 

164,033 

172,301 

149,844 

177,832 

208,000 

1825-26 

253,592 

240,385 

155,776 

234,166 

262,006 

1821-22 

1826-27 

1822-23 

1827-28 

1823-24 

1828-29 

1824-25 

1829-30 

1821. — ^John  T.  Donald,  in  the  Southern  Cultivator,  gave  this 
account  of  cotton  picking  in  the  early  days : 

He  was  told  by  a Georgia  planter  that  in  the  early  days  when 
30  pounds  was  the  usual  day's  picking,  a planter's  wife  once  pro- 
posed to  her  husband  that  if  he  would  bring  her  a silk  dress 


100 


GEORGIA 


when  he  went  to  Augusta  she  would  pick  50  pounds  in  one  day, 
if  a servant  was  furnished  to  carry  the  basket.  The  husband 
readily  assented.  The  wife  set  to  work  as  early  in  the  morning 
as  the  dew  would  permit,  and  by  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  had 
gathered  50  pounds.  The  report  soon  spread  through  the 

country  that  Mrs.  had  picked  50  pounds  of  cotton  in  one 

day  and  this  operated  as  a wonderful  stimulant  on  cotton  pickers. 
Very  soon  a good  many  found  that  they  could  do  the  same 
thing.  Occasionally  some  extraordinary  picker  would  reach  60 
pounds.  After  the  Tennessee  green  seed  was  introduced,  the 
picking  was  better,  say  from  40  to  70  pounds,  and  after  getting 
accustomed  to  these  “enormous  weights,”  it  reached  70  to  80 
pounds.  About  this  time,  a picker  (who  was  a white  man) 
upon  having  his  cotton  weighed,  at  dusk  as  usual,  the  weigher 
called  out  “90  pounds  net.”  The  picker  was  astonished,  believing 
it  impossible.  Next  morning,  still  in  doubt,  he  borrowed  from 
a neighbor  a pair  of  steelyards  and  reweighed  his  basket  of 
cotton,  but  it  was  still  90  pounds.  This  created  another  furor 
of  excitement.  About  1821  an  ambitious  young  man  of  the 
neighborhood,  declared  his  determination  to  beat  this  record,  so 
making  arrangements  with  his  mother  to  send  him  his  breakfast 
and  dinner,  he  went  to  the  field  before  day,  sat  down  quietly 
awaiting  daylight,  and  as  soon  as  it  was  light  enough  began 
picking,  and  continued  at  it  so  long  as  he  could  see  a boll.  He 
sent  for  two  of  his  neighbors  to  weigh  his  cotton,  and,  lo  and 
behold ! marvelous  as  it  was,  the  scales  told  110  pounds  net.  It 
was  so  enormous  that  other  cotton  pickers  lost  courage.  This 
young  man  became  the  hero  of  the  day,  and  neighbors  living 
several  miles  away  visited  him  to  find  out  if  it  was  true  that  he 
had  picked  110  pounds  in  one  day.  He  was  afterwards  congrat- 
ulated by  hundreds  of  people  at  an  old-fashioned  regimental  drill. 

1822.  — Sometime  during  President  Monroe’s  administration, 
VVm.  H.  Crawford,  then  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  introduced 
and  had  distributed  the  Nankin  variety  of  cotton.  It  had,  how- 
ever, been  experimented  with  prior  to  this  period,  but  at  no 
time  proved  a success. 

1823.  — The  shipments  from  Savannah  this  year  amounted  to 
169,524  bales,  82,230  of  which  were  to  foreign  ports.  The  sea- 
island  receipts  were  11,130  bales. 

1824.  — During  the  year  ended  September  30  (1824)  there 
were  exported  from  Savannah  9,951  bales  of  sea-island  and 
142,358  bales  of  upland  cotton. 


KING  COTTON 


101 


This  item  appeared  in  Niles’  Register : “Died  on  the  10th  of 
October,  1824,  at  his  residence,  Deptford  Hill,  three  miles  from 
Savannah.  Nicholas  Trumbull,  Esq.,  a native  of  Smyrna,  aged 
about  seventy  years,  during  forty  of  which  he  has  maintained  an 
unblemished  reputation  in  this  country.  Mr.  Trumbull,  it  is 
believed,  was  the  first  planter  who  cultivated,  upon  a scale  for 
exportation,  the  article  of  cotton,  now  the  greatest  staple  of  the 
South.” 

For  the  first  time  the  crop  exceeded  200,000  bales. 

1825.  — About  this  time  Samuel  Griswold  began  the  manufac- 
ture of  saw-gins  on  an  extensive  scale  at  Clinton. 

The  Georgia  Journal  (April  17)  contained  this  item:  “The 
cotton  market  opened  last  fall  at  7 and  8 cents,  and  on  yesterday 
27  cents  was  offered  and  refused.” 

1826.  — Savannah  receipts  184,238  bales  of  upland  and  6,354 
bales  of  sea-island  cotton,  total  190,592  bales.  It  was  understood 
that  a considerable  quantity  remained  in  the  hands  of  planters. 

1827.  — Greater  damage  was  done  by  the  caterpillar  in  the 
lower  counties  than  ever  before  known.  The  crops  in  Camden  and 
Glynn  counties  were  almost  totally  destroyed. 

It  was  estimated  that  from  30,000  to  40,000  bales  were 
shipped  from  the  port  of  Darien. 

In  IMarch  the  foundation  of  a factory  with  1,000  spindles 
and  30  looms  was  laid  at  IMoore’s  Mill,  4 miles  from  Athens. 
This  was  the  first  cotton  mill  built  in  the  State  run  by  other 
than  horse  power.  The  editor  of  the  local  paper  (at  Athens) 
in  noting  this  important  event  said : “A  sense  of  safety  and  a 
feeling  of  independence  combined,  doubtless,  with  an  expec- 
tation of  profit  have  urged  gentlemen  to  an  undertaking 
against  which  their  political  convictions  are  at  war.  And,  we  are 
authorized  to  state  that  these  sentiments  have,  by  no  means, 
undergone  a change;  that  their  project  is  certainly  not  to  give 
countenance  to  a system  which  they  have  always  denounced,  but 
it  is  to  be  regarded  as  a measure  unquestionably  defensive.” 
About  this  time  there  was  intense  opposition  in  the  South  to 
the  protective  tariff  then  in  force. 

The  statement  was  made  before  a Congressional  Committee 
by  a cotton  merchant,  “that  cotton  picked  in  bags  made  of 


102 


GEORGL\ 


cotton,  can  be  transported  to  England  in  as  good  order  as  that 
put  up  in  hemp  or  flax  bagging,  and  when  well  put  up,  would 
command  more  in  the  market,  particularly  if  in  square  bales.” 

1828. — The  Georgia  Courier  estimated  that  112,994  bales  of 
cotton  were  shipped  from  Augusta  and  Hamburg. 

A sea-island  planter  sold  ten  bags  of  his  crop  for  90  cents  a 
pound ; for  his  two  succeeding  crops  he  received  $1.00  and  $1.25 
a pound. 

Four  cotton  mills,  one  at  Augusta,  two  at  Milledgeville,  and 
another  at  Indian  Springs  were  put  into  operation. 

A Georgia  planter  writing  to  the  Southern  Agriculturist  said 
the  first  year  his  cotton  was  seriously  injured  by  rust  was  in 
1828.  It  made  its  appearance  about  August  1,  and  by  the  end 
of  that  month  not  a green  leaf  was  to  be  found  in  a field  of  40 
acres.  One  field  did  not  yield  more  than  20  pounds  to  the  acre. 
The  causes  of  rust  were  attributed  to  “atmospheric  influences.” 


CoiM.MERCIAL  COTTON  CrOPS  OF  GEORGIA,  1830-1839 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1830-31 

256,377 

271,791 

268,463 

251,429 

2,36,612 

1835-36 

319,573 

314,867 

390,036 

292,436 

4,50.076 

1831-32 

1836-37 

1832-33 

1837-38 

1833-34 

1838-39 

1834-35 

1839-40 

1831. — There  was  a great  decline  in  the  price  of  cotton,  in 
consequence  of  which  some  heavy  failures  occurred  at  Macon. 
Cotton,  which  the  fall  previous  was  worth  9 to  11  cents,  declined 
to  5 and  7 cents. 

1833.  — Lancelot  Johnson,  of  Madison,  obtained  a patent  for  a 
cotton  seed  huller.  N.  Nixon,  of  the  same  place,  also  obtained 
a similar  patent. 

1834.  — A sea-island  cotton  picker  was  expected  to  gather 
25  pounds  a day,  and  this  was  considered  a good  average.  A 
laborer  cultivated  4 acres  which  was  expected  to  yield  500  pounds 
of  clean  cotton  and  would  sell  for  25  cents  a pound.  The  fiber 
was  separated  from  the  seed  by  a small  hand  gin  consisting  of 
two  wooden  rollers,  Jd  to  1 inch  in  diameter,  and  revolving  from 
100  to  500  times  a minute.  The  rollers  were  kept  together  by  a 


KING  COTTON 


103 


wooden  frame  and  a square  shaft,  upon  which  was  fixed  a wooden 
or  iron  fly  wheel,  from  2 to  3 feet  in  diameter.  The  iron  crank 
which  turned  the  rollers  was  connected  by  strips  of  wood  with 
a treadle  worked  b}'  the  foot  of  the  ginner.  This  treadle,  or 
foot  gin,  was  imported  from  the  West  Indies  and  was  of  very 
ancient  origin.  It  was  in  use  in  Georgia  and  South  Carolina 
for  many  years,  and  cost  about  $10. 

In  a contribution  to  the  Southern  Planter  Thomas  Spalding, 
of  Sapelo  Island,  said;  “INIiller  and  AVhitney’s  gin  was  designed 
by  Mr.  Mdiitney  at  the  plantation  of  INIr.  Miller,  16  miles  from 
Savannah,  about  the  year  1795”  (it  was  1793),  “and  it  seems 
to  be  derived  from  two  machines  already  used  upon  cotton,  a kind 
of  cylindrical  whipper  and  the  circular  cards,  before  that  time 
introduced  in  manufacturing  cotton.” 

The  first  railroad  in  the  State  was  built  this  year. 

1835. — Hon.  Robert  Toombs  is  said  to  have  sold  his  plan- 
tation in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  State,  on  account  of  the 
ravages  of  the  cotton  worm. 

The  crop  this  year  exceeded  300,000  hales. 

1837.  — A cotton  mill  was  in  operation  at  Columbus,  and  in 
1849  one  was  built  at  Roswell. 

1838.  — The  first  new  bale  of  cotton  was  shipped  to  Charleston 
from  Columbia  county.  Thirteen  cents  a pound  was  offered  for 
it  and  refused. 

1839.  — A great  convention  of  cotton  planters  was  held  at 
Macon,  the  object  being  an  attempt  to  regulate  the  price  of  cotton. 
Commenting  on  the  results  of  this  effort  Hunt’s  Merchants  Maga- 
zine says : “A  few  years  since  it  was  supposed  that  no  matter 
how  great  a quantity  of  cotton  was  raised,  high  prices  could  be 
compelled  for  it  abroad  by  a combination  of  paper  credit  with  a 
view  to  hold.  For  such  a purpose  the  famous  Macon  Convention 
was  held,  but  of  course  utterly  failed  in  its  objects.  The  vast 
capital  of  the  United  States  Bank  governed  the  cotton  market 
for  a short  time,  and  sustained  prices  for  a season,  only  to  make 
them  sink  lower  in  the  end.” 

The  famous  “Cotton  Circular”  that  attracted  widespread 
attention  throughout  the  country  made  its  appearance  this  year. 
At  first  it  was  thought  it  emanated  from  the  United  States  Bank, 


104 


GEORGIA 


at  Philadelphia,  but  this  was  denied  by  the  bank  officials.  Its 
authorship  was  afterwards  attributed  to  one  or  two  Southern 
gentlemen  and  one  or  two  in  New  York;  one  of  them  Gen. 
Plamilton  and  another  Gov.  McDuffie,  both  of  South  Carolina. 
The  circular  was  sent  out  to  the  banks  and  cotton  merchants,  and 
created  no  little  excitement  in  money  circles.  It  announced  that 
an  arrangement  had  been  made  with  Humphreys  and  Biddle  of 
Philadelphia  and  Liverpool,  to  advance  three-fourths  of  the  value 
of  each  bale  of  cotton  (at  14  cents  a pound),  the  consignments 
to  go  forward  to  the  banking  establishments,  “who  sustained  by 
adequate  means  on  both  sides  of  the  water,  would  be  able  to  hold 
on  ’till  prices  vigorously  rallied.”  The  result  of  the  circular  was 
a meeting  in  New  York  (July  5,  1839)  of  fourteen  prominent 
cotton  planters,  who  issued  a call  for  a convention,  to  be  held  at 
Macon,  Ga.,  October  22.  The  convention  met  and  passed  the 
following  resolutions : 

Resolved  : — That  this  convention  entirely  concurs  in  the  opinion 
expressed  in  said  circular,  that  owing  to  the  circumstances  under 
which  the  cotton  crop  is  usually  sent  to  the  market,  the  price 
of  the  article  is  not  left  to  be  regulated  by  the  fair  and  natural 
influences  of  the  law  of  supply  and  demand. 

Resolved : — As  the  opinion  of  this  convention,  that  a remedy 
for  the  evil,  as  effective  of  its  object  as  it  is  simple  in  its  charac- 
ter, will  be  found  in  the  recommendation  of  the  circular  “that 
the  cotton  of  our  country  shall  not  be  sent  to  market,  accom- 
panied by  a bill  of  exchange,  which  must  coerce  its  sale  at  a 
fixed  date,  whatever  may  be  the  state  of  the  market.” 

Resolved : — That  the  cotton  planters  and  American  shippers 
in  the  southern  ports  be  earnestly  reciuested  to  concur  in  the 
measures  recommended  by  this  convention,  by  which  they  may  be 
certain  of  having  their  cotton  held,  and  not  forced  on  the  market 
at  a ruinous  sacrifice. 

Resolved : — That  the  banks  in  the  Southern  States  l^e  in- 
vited to  concur  in  a general  system  of  advancing  on  the  crop, 
as  the  only  certain  means  of  replenishing  their  stock  of  specie, 
and  of  placing  their  circulation  on  a sound  basis. 

Of  the  93  counties  in  the  State  all  but  4 produced  cotton. 
The  counties  making  the  largest  crops  were,  in  the  order  named : 
— Hancock,  Morgan,  Talbot,  Upson  and  Jefferson.  The  counties 
that  did  not  raise  cotton  were : Bryan,  Houston,  Rabun  and  Union. 

The  crop  for  the  first  time  exceeded  400,000. 


KING  COTTON 


105 


There  were  19  cotton  mills  in  operation,  with  42,589  spindles 
and  consuming  about  18,150  bales  of  cotton. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Georgia,  1840-1849 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1840-41 

256.931 

No  data 

No  data 

No  data 

1841-42 

.350,039 

do 

do 

do 

1842-43 

462.664 

do 

do 

do 

184.3-44 

•508,4.30 

do 

do 

do 

1844-45 

489,175 

do 

do 

do 

1845-46 

307,698 

do 

do 

do 

1846-47 

375,083 

do 

do 

do 

1847-48 

463,005 

do 

do 

do 

1848-49 

554,296 

20,500 

do 

do 

1849-50 

499,091 

20,230 

35 

51,150 

1840. — There  were  275  miles  of  railway  in  operation. 

1843. — The  crop  for  the  first  time  exceeded  a half  million 
bales. 

The  Georgia  Central  Railroad  handled  42,834  bales  of  cotton. 

The  first  bale  of  new  cotton  received  at  Augusta  was  on 
August  24. 

The  Central  Railroad  of  Georgia,  from  Savannah  to  Atlanta 
(294  miles)  was  formed  by  the  consolidation  (December 
1,  1872)  of  the  Central  Railroad  Co.,  chartered  in  1835,  com- 
pleted in  1843,  and  the  Macon  & Western  Railroad  chartered 
in  1833  and  completed  in  1846.  The  Milledgeville  Branch  was 
chartered  in  1837  and  opened  in  1852. 

1845. — The  cotton  crop  was  seriously  damaged  by  excessive 
drought  throughout  the  growing  season. 

The  first  bale  of  new  cotton  received  at  Augusta  was  from 
Columbia  county,  July  31. 

R.  P.  Burton  sent  the  Savannah  Republican  a cotton  stalk 
grown  upon  his  plantation  in  Camden  county,  which  it  said  beat 
anything  ever  known  in  those  parts.  It  was  of  the  fine  big  cream 
kind,  nearly  12  feet  high  and  the  limbs  measured  at  the  foot  of 
the  stalk  about  10  feet  from  tip  to  tip.  The  number  of  bolls  and 
forms  on  two  limbs  alone,  each  6 feet  from  the  ground,  amounted 
to  78.  The  whole  stalk  contained  several  hundred.  It  grew  on 
land  that  had  been  planted  in  cotton  eleven  years  in  succession. 


106 


GEORGIA 


The  editor  proposed  making  a walking  cane  of  one  of  the  upper 
branches. 

The  Georgia  Railroad  from  Augusta  to  Atlanta  (171  miles) 
was  chartered  December  21,  1833,  and  the  main  line  and  its 
branches  (Camak  to  Macon,  71  miles — Union  Point  to  Athens, 
10  miles — Barnet  to  Washington,  17  miles)  were  completed  in 
this  year.  The  Macon  & Augusta  Railroad,  chartered  in  1859 
and  opened  in  1872,  was  acquired  by  the  Georgia  Railroad  during 
the  latter  year. 

1816.  — The  following  account  of  the  condition  of  the  crop 
in  i\Iay  was  given  by  the  Southern  Planter : “It  is  a fact  that  on 
many  farms  in  Georgia,  Alabama,  South  Carolina  and  North 
Carolina  the  cotton  is  not  up,  and  much  is  just  coming  up.  Some 
are  plowing  up  and  planting  fresh  seed.  The  cotton  that  is 
already  up,  and  that  which  has  been  up  some  four  or  six  weeks, 
looks  smaller  and  seems  to  grow  smaller,  much  of  it  perfectly 
lousy,  with  ‘sore  shins,’  resembling  a dried  cracklin,  and  dying 
from  the  cold  weather.” 

Great  damage  was  done  by  the  caterpillar,  particularly  in  the 
southern  tier  of  counties. 

The  advantages  of  compressing  cotton  for  export,  was  thus 
illustrated  by  the  Savannah  Georgian : “The  bark  ‘Georgia’  on  one 
trip  cleared  with  a cargo  of  uncompressed  cotton  consisting  of 
1,310  bales  of  178,538  pounds.  On  her  next  trip  she  cleared  with 
1,580  bales  or  621,200  pounds,  a gain  of  210  bales,  or  about 
115,662  pounds.” 

1817.  — Throughout  the  counties  of  Troup,  Harris,  Talbot, 
Muscogee,  Meriwether  and  Upson,  six  of  the  largest  producing 
counties  in  the  State,  the  heavy  rains  caused  the  forms  to  drop 
off.  Both  caterpillars  and  boll-worms  destroyed  the  crop. 

A writer  in  De  Bow’s  Review  (M.  Tarver,  of  Missouri), 
recommending  the  use  of  slave  labor  in  the  cotton  mills,  because 
so  much  cheaper,  and  answering  the  assertion  which  was  fre- 
quently made  in  those  times,  that  slaves  were  not  intelligent 
enough  to  make  useful  and  profitable  operatives,  said,  that  this 
was  a mere  assumption,  “it  being  a well  established  fact  that 
negroes  learned  blacksmithing,  carpentering,  boot  and  shoe 
making,  and  all  the  handicraft  trades,  with  as  much  facility  as 


KING  COTTON 


107 


white  men,  and  that  Mr.  Deering,  of  Georgia,  had  employed 
slaves  in  his  cotton  factory  for  many  years  with  decided  success.” 

1848.  — The  food  allowance  for  slaves,  as  stated  by  J.  L. 
M'hitten,  of  Hancock  county,  was  180  pounds  of  pork,  50  pounds 
of  beef,  and  15  bushels  of  corn  for  each  individual,  little  and  big, 
to  consume  in  the  year,  besides  milk,  vegetables,  some  molasses, 
flour,  sugar  and  coffee,  amount  not  estimated,  and  in  addition, 
sweet  potatoes  and  fruits.  The  wages  for  farm  managers  or 
overseers,  was  $300 ; on  small  farms  $200 ; and  from  that  price 
to  $400  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  hands  and  the  skill  of 
the  manager.  The  average  yield  of  cotton  was  200  pounds  of  lint 
to  the  acre.  The  variety  of  seed  planted  most  commonly  was  the 
Petit  Gulf  and  Alvarado. 

1849.  — Frosts  in  April,  with  extremes  of  wet  and  dry  weather, 
cut  off  the  crop  in  central  Georgia  by  one-half. 

Houston  county  produced  the  largest  crop  of  any  county  in 
the  State,  IS',362  bales  of  400  pounds  each. 

The  Central  Railroad,  extending  from  Macon  to  Savannah 
(191  miles)  handled  203,725  bales  of  cotton  during  this  year,  as 
compared  with  168,785  in  1848,  and  87,524  the  previous  year. 


Co-M.MERCi.vL  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Georgia,  1850-1859 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1850-51 

Bales 

450,130 

631,939 

690.539 

Bales 

13,000 

36 

51,400 

1851-52 

22.000 

1852-53 

20.000 

1853-54 

621,563 

22,116 

602,897 

675,355 

22,11,3 

22,509 

25,225 

25,084 

28,709 

30,235 

1856-57 

575,940 

503,595 

658,425 

701,840 

1853-59 

1859-60 

33 

85,186 

1850. — Guano  and  other  commercial  manures  were  extensively 
used  on  the  fields  of  Georgia  and  the  Carolinas  during  the  decade 
1850-1860. 

W.  C.  Dickson  estimated  the  yield  per  acre  in  Baldwin  count}" 
at  500  pounds  of  seed  cotton. 


108 


GEORGIA 


The  Western  & Atlantic  Railway,  from  xA-tlanta  to  Ghat- 
tanooga  (138  miles),  now  operated  by  the  Nashville,  Chat- 
tanooga & St.  Louis  Railway,  was  built  by  the  State  of  Georgia 
and  opened  this  year.  About  this  time  the  Georgia  Railroad  was 
extended  to  the  Tennessee  river  and  in  consequence  the  cotton 
receipts  at  Savannah  were  increased. 

There  were  643  miles  of  railway  in  operation. 

The  late  cold  spring  and  long  drought  in  June  and  July  cut 
off  the  yield  of  cotton. 

1851. — The  crop  for  the  first  time  exceeded  600,000  bales. 

A Cotton  Planters’  Convention  was  held  this  year  at  Macon. 
The  plan  presented  to  the  convention  for  curing  the  evil  of 
“irregular  and  unremunerative  prices  of  cotton"  was  suggested 
in  a pamphlet,  as  follows ; — 

If  we  do  anything  certainly  and  effectively,  we  must  organize 
a Cotton  Planters’  Association.  This  should  be  chartered  by  the 
States  of  South  Carolina,  Georgia.  Alabama.  Louisiana  and 
Florida,  with  a capital  of  at  least  $20,000,000,  to  be  increased 
in  amount  as  the  wants  of  the  business  may  require.  The  Asso- 
ciation should  erect  or  purchase  extensive  werehouses  in  Charles- 
ton, Savannah,  Mobile,  New  Orleans,  Apalachicola  and  St. 
Marks,  and  establish  at  each  of  these  points  a regular  commission 
business,  with  a view  to  the  storage  and  sale  of  the  entire  crop 
of  the  United  States.  For  the  purpose  of  securing  to  themselves 
the  whole  of  the  commission  business,  they  should  establish  a 
minimum  price,  which  for  the  purposes  of  this  argument  we  will 
fix  at  10  to  123/2  cents,  according  to  quality  and  location,  and 
averaging,  say  11  cents  a pound.  This  should  be  guaranteed  to 
all  their  regular  customers,  and  to  all  parties  holding  cotton  pur- 
chased of  them,  so  long  as  the  cotton  remains  in  their  ware- 
houses. The  world  should  have  notice  that,  whenever  the  cotton 
offering  was  not  wanted  by  others,  at,  or  above,  the  minimum 
fixed,  it  would  be  wanted  by  the  Association ; that  when  once 
purchased,  it  should  never  be  resold  until  taken  at  cost,  adding 
storage,  insurance,  interest  on  the  investment,  with  a commission 
for  purchasing,  and  another  for  selling.  This  accumulation  of 
charges  would  induce  the  manufacturers  to  take  their  supplies 
before  the  Company  would  be  required  to  take  any ; nor  is  it, 
indeed,  likely  that  they  would  ever  be  the  purchasers  to  any  great 
extent.  Under  such  a system  the  planter  would  not  crowd  the 
market  with  cotton,  as  is  now  the  case,  and  speculators  at  the 
minimum  price  would  purchase  freely  and  hold  with  confidence. 


COTTON  PICKING  IN  GEORGIA. 


KING  COTTON 


109 


1852.  — Dr.  Daniell,  of  Savannah,  suggested  as  a remedy  for 
the  low  price  of  cotton,  that  the  Cotton  Planters’  Convention  called 
to  meet  at  IMontgomery,  Ala.,  offer  a premium  sufficient  to  stimu- 
late the  mechanical  skill  of  the  world,  to  supply  an  effective  ma- 
chine calculated  to  gin,  card  and  spin  into  any  of  the  numbers  of 
yarn  in  ordinary  use,  about  ten  pounds  of  clean  cotton  per  hour, 
which  cotton  planters  may  introduce  upon  their  plantations  to 
spin  into  yarn  during  the  winter  the  cotton  grown  the  preced- 
ing season. 

1853.  — Frosts  occurred  in  this  State,  and  as  far  south  as 
Louisiana  in  the  latter  part  of  April.  It  was  so  severe  as  to 
require  replanting  on  a large  number  of  plantations. 

1854.  — The  Augusta  & Savannah  Railroad,  now  the  Central 
of  Georgia,  from  Augusta  to  Millen  (53  miles)  was  chartered 
in  1838  and  opened  this  year. 

1856.  — At  the  Cotton  Planters’  Convention  which  met  at 
Savannah  this  resolution  was  passed : 

\\’hereas.  a patent  having  been  lately  granted  by  the  Govern- 
ment to  a citizen  of  IMobile,  by  means  of  which  by  a continuous 
process  cotton  may  be  converted  into  marketable  yarn,  involving 
but  a small  expense,  and  calling  into  requisition  the  surplus  labor 
of  the  field,  therefore,  it  is  suggested  by  this  Convention  that  the 
subject  should  receive  the  serious  consideration  of  the  planting 
interests,  as  one  calculated  largely  to  increase  its  wealth. 

E.  Crawford,  of  Early  county,  reported  the  average  production 
in  his  county  at  200  pounds  of  lint  per  acre. 

1857.  — A well  known  and  popular  variety  of  cotton  called  the 
“Dickson,”  was  originated  about  1857  or  1858,  at  Oxford,  by 
David  Dickson.  It  was  developed  from  the  Boyd  Prolific  after 
a careful  selection  of  the  seed. 

Patents  were  granted  to  Joseph  Shaw,  J.  M.  Hall,  and  Roberts 
& Davis  for  cotton  cultivators,  and  to  T.  W.  White  and  Lorenzo 
D.  Law.  for  cotton  seed  planters. 

The  Atlanta  & West  Point  Railroad  was  chartered  in  1847, 
opened  to  La  Grange  in  1854  and  to  West  Point  during  this  year. 

1859. — The  following  is  an  account  of  “A  Cotton  Landing 
on  the  Chattahoochee”  and  the  manner  in  which  cotton  was 
shipped  to  market  by  river  in  the  days  before  the  railroads  monop- 
olized this  traffic ; 


110 


GEORGIA 


To  guard  against  the  flood,  wliich  may  at  any  time  sub- 
merge the  stores  on  the  banks,  the  planters  build  their  wharves 
with  several  floors,  four,  five  or  six,  so  that  boats  may  land  their 
cargoes  or  take  freight  at  whatever  height  the  river  happens  to 
be  at  the  time.  These  wharves  or  landings  are  but  few  and  far 
between  on  those  sparsely  settled  banks,  and  few  of  them  are 
very  commodious.  Nor  must  you  expect  to  be  often  accommo- 
dated by  a flight  of  steps  to  convey  you  to  the  habitable  upper 
regions ; generally  you  will  have  to  scramble  up  the  wild  ascent 
as  best  you  can.  Sometimes  the  cotton  bales  are  lowered  by  a 
rope  from  the  top  of  the  bank ; but  more  frequently  they  are  shot 
down  a long  wooden  slide  or  trench,  through  which  not  cotton 
bales  alone,  but  pigs  and  provisions  come  tumbling  in  uproarious 
pell-mell.  When,  after  the  gliding  smoothly  on  for  hours  amidst 
inanimate  nature,  you  arrive  at  one  of  these  landings,  sudden  is 
the  awakening,  as  if  from  some  pleasant  dream.  Freight,  per- 
haps passengers,  are  to  be  conveyed  on  shore ; cotton,  provisions, 
fuel  are  to  be  brought  on  board ; laborers,  white  and  black,  amid 
shouting  and  noise,  set  to  work,  heaving,  hauling,  and  dragging 
whatever  has  to  be  heaved,  hauled  and  dragged,  the  negroes  in- 
variably accompanying  their  movements  with  as  much  action  and 
loquacity  as  would  suffice  in  loading  half  a dozen  steamers.  A 
planter  or  two  and  their  overseers  stand  looking  on ; two  or 
three  negresses  with  white  turbans  and  black  babies  on  the  bank 
above,  and  some  sprawling  urchins  at  various  elevations,  are  sure 
to  enliven  the  scene ; some  young  ladies,  too,  have  driven  several 
miles  from  a neighboring  plantation  to  enjoy  the  not  too  frequent 
excitement;  the  several  conveyances  belonging  to  this  small 
assemblage  forming  all  together  such  a business-looking  crowd  as 
may  not  be  gathered  together  again  for  many  weeks.  However 
tranquilly  the  steamer  threaded  the  solitude  just  now,  you  bid 
adieu  to  tranquillity  for  the  next  hour ; and  what  with  hauling 
cotton  hales  on  board,  and  stowing  away  incredible  numbers  of 
them  by  the  aid  of  the  inexorable  jack-screw — what  with  “wood- 
ing up”  or  transferring  from  the  shore  to  the  under  deck  a stock 
of  wood  for  fuel;  and  what  with  the  jolting  and  bumping,  and 
clamor  and  confusion  attendant  on  these  various  performances, 
you  would  think  the  frail  boat  was  going  to  pieces  there  and 
then.  With  her  increasing  cargo  she  sinks  perceptibly ; by  and  by 
the  banks  are  cleared  and  you  are  off  again,  probably  to  make  no 
further  stoppages  during  the  day,  or  at  most  to  take  on  wood 
from  a lonely  pile  left  stacked  in  readiness.  The  people  in  charge 
of  these  piles  may  have  grown  tired  of  waiting  for  the  dilatory 
steamer  and  you  will  probably  see  a slip  of  paper  stuck  promi- 
nently on  the  pile,  telling  the  Captain  where  to  deposit  his  dollar 
notes  in  payment,  tire  mail  bag  (to  be  fetched  at  leisure)  and 


KING  COTTON 


111 


whatever  packages  he  may  have  brought  for  the  sequestered  com- 
munity thereabouts. 

The  Census  returns  gave  Houston  county  the  largest  total 
production,  28,852  bales  of  100  pounds  each. 

David  Dickson,  of  Oxford,  succeeded  in  producing  on  one 
stalk  of  cotton,  from  a variety  he  named  “Dickson’s  Select 
Cotton,”  only  5 feet  high,  169  bolls. 

The  crop  for  the  first  time  exceeded  700,000  bales. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Georgia,  1860-1869 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1860-61 

Bales 

501,519 

Bales 

34.508 

1861-62 

1862-63 

1863-64 

1864-65 

1S65-6G 

1866-67 

232,974 

402,001 

298,790 

18,590 

20,956 

20  280 

1867-68 

1868-69 

1869-70 

437,934 

24,821 

34 

85,062 

1860.  — The  gin  house  was  generally  the  largest  establishment 
upon  the  plantation,  and  not  unfrequently  the  most  expensive.  It 
usually  embraced  the  mill,  dr3dng'  house  and  gin,  under  the  same 
roof.  The  machinery  for  operating  both  mill  and  gin  was  turned 
b}’  mules  or  horses.  The  building  was  raised  upon  posts  about 
8 feet  high,  and  the  “sweeps”  of  the  mill  and  gin  were  in  the  open 
shed  underneath  the  building. 

There  were  1,120  miles  of  railway  in  operation. 

The  increase  in  the  yield  of  cotton  in  Georgia,  said  Dr.  Joseph 
Jones,  in  a review  of  a recent  Cotton  Planters’  Convention,  “has 
not  corresponded  with  the  increase  in  population,  and  the  reason 
for  this  is  to  be  attributed  to  the  deterioration  of  the  lands  for 
want  of  rest  and  manures.” 

1861.  — In  a speech  at  Atlanta  Hon.  Plowel  Cobb  proposed  that 
the  Southern  planters  should  sell  one-half  of  their  cotton  crop  to 
the  Confederate  Government,  and  accept  its  bonds  in  payment 
therefor.  The  same  year  the  Confederate  Government  passed  an 
act  prohibiting  the  exportation  of  cotton  from  the  Confederate 


112 


GEORGIA 


States,  except  through  the  seaports  of  those  States,  and  to 
punish  persons  offending  against  the  law. 

1865.  — At  the  London  World’s  Fair  held  in  1850,  Capt.  John 
Corrie,  of  the  schooner  “Wanderer,”  attracted  by  a sign  placed 
over  a small  saucer  containing  some  black  seeds,  read  this  notice : 
“Cotton  Raised  from  these  Seeds  was  Spun  into  Thread  150 
Miles  Long.”  He  managed  to  transfer  five  of  these  seeds  to  his 
vest  pocket.  “Nine  years  later,”  says  W.  A.  Gordan,  of  Savannah, 
“when  the  ‘Wanderer’  brought  to  Jekyl  Island  the  last  cargo  of 
slaves  imported  into  the  United  States,  Capt.  Corrie,  noticing 
that  cotton  was  growing  on  the  island,  hunted  up  the  old  vest  and 
found  the  five  cotton  seed.  He  gave  them  to  John  Du  Bignon  then 
a cotton  planter  on  the  island.  Mr.  Du  Bignon  planted  the  seed, 
from  which  he  obtained  enough  to  plant  a crop.  The  war  inter- 
vening, the  three  bales  made  from  this  crop  were  hidden  in  a 
swamp  to  prevent  seizure  by  the  Union  troops.  After  the  war, 
in  1865,  with  the  bagging  nearly  rotted  off  of  the  bales  they  were 
shipped  to  Savannah  and  sold  by  Tison  and  Gordon  for  $1,621/2 
per  pound,  the  highest  price  in  fifty  years  obtained  for  cotton  in 
that  market.” 

The  receipts  of  upland  cotton  at  Savannah  this  year  were 
60,144  bales  of  upland,  and  3,891  bales  of  sea-island.  In  1870  the 
receipts  of  upland  increased  to  478,941  bales,  but  the  receipts  of 
sea-island  cotton  increased  only  1,323  bales. 

1866.  — The  amount  of  the  cotton  tax  collected  in  the  State  by 
the  Federal  Government  was  $3,554,544,  and  in  1867,  $3,282,276. 

1867.  — The  Atlantic  & Gulf  Railroad',  or  Savannah,  Florida 
& Western,  now  the  Plant  System,  from  Savannah  to  Bain- 
bridge  (237  miles),  was  completed  this  year.  Sixty-nine  miles 
out  from  Savannah  was  built  from  1854  to  1858 ; it  was  extended 
to  Thomasville  in  1861  and  completed  to  Bainbridge  in  1867.  The 
Albany  Branch  was  extended  to  East  Albany  in  1870. 

1868.  — As  evidence  of  what  can  be  done  with  “worn  out” 
cotton  lands.  State  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  Stevens,  cites 
this  instance : In  this  year  Mr.  Samuel  Bailey  purchased  a place 
in  Oglethorpe  county  which  was  considered  worthless  for  farm- 
ing purposes.  The  first  year  he  cultivated  only  16  acres,  plow- 
ing deep  and  subsoiling,  and  leveling  all  washes  as  near  as  possi- 


KING  COTTON 


113 


ble.  He  sowed  one  acre  in  wheat  and  15  in  cotton.  From  the 
acre  of  wheat  he  gathered  57  bushels,  and  from  the  15  acres  in 
cotton  he  obtained  11  bales  weighing  465  pounds  each.  He 
advocated  deep  plowing  and  thorough  preparation  of  the  land, 
more  especially  when  manuring  highly  with  either  barn-yard  or 
commercial  manure.  By  saving  all  manure  accumulated  on  his 
place,  he  brought  his  lands  up  to  a yield  of  35  to  40  bushels  of 
wheat  and  a bale  of  cotton  to  the  acre. 

The  amount  of  the  cotton  tax  collected  by  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment was  $5,059,274. 

The  caterpillar  was  very  destructive  in  some  counties.  In  the 
central  part  of  the  State  nearly  a half  of  the  crop  was  reported  lost. 
A portion  of  the  sea-island  crop  was  also  destroyed  by  the  cotton 
worm.  In  some  parts  of  the  State  the  crop  was  also  cut  oft'  by 
ten  weeks  of  dry  weather  in  May,  June  and  July. 

1869. — David  Dickson,  who  was  the  first  planter  to  introduce 
the  use  of  commercial  fertilizers  in  cotton  cultivation,  formulated 
a “compound”  which  he  declared  had  never  failed  to  grow  g'ood 
crops  and  bring  satisfactory  dividends,  no  matter  what  might  be 
the  season. 

The  Southwestern  Railroad,  now  the  Central  of  Georgia,  from 
Macon  to  Eufaula,  Alabama  (144  miles),  and  its  branches,  from 
Ft.  A'alley  to  Columbus,  Smithville  to  Albany,  Cuthbert  to  Ft. 
Gaines,  Ft.  'Valley  to  Perry,  and  Albany  to  Arlington,  were  built 
some  time  prior  to  1869  and  leased  in  that  year  to  the  Central  of 
Georgia  Railway. 

Dawson  county  made  the  largest  crop  in  the  State,  19,690 
bales. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consu.mption  of  Cotton  in 
Georgia,  1870-1879 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1870-71  

Bales 

600,000 

Bales 

27.027 

No  data 

No  data 

1871-72 

328,000 

.35.640 

do 

do 

1872-7.3 

•505,000 

39,122 

do 

do 

1873-74 

500,000 

.39,920 

42 

137,330 

1874-7.5 

460.000 

.50,214 

47 

131,340 

1875—76 

420,000 

50.600 

No  data 

No  data 

1876-77 

505,000 

47,958 

do 

do 

1877-78 

680.000 

57,078 

do 

do 

1878-79.  

530,763 

70,.308 

do 

do 

1879-80 

814,441 

71  389 

40 

198,656 

8 


114 


GEORGIA 


On  a little  more  than  six  acres  B.  G.  Lockett,  of  Albany, 
realized  27,206  pounds  of  seed,  or  1,420%  pounds  of  lint  to 
the  acre.  The  land  on  which  it  was  grown  was  strong  limestone 
soil,  chocolate  colored,  and  manured  with  barn-yard  manure  and 
ammoniated  bones.  A premium  for  this  crop  was  given  at  the 
Georgia  State  Fair. 

1870.  — The  Macon  & Brunswick  Railroad,  now  the  Southern 
Railway,  from  Macon  to  Brunswick  (187  miles),  was  opened  in 
1869,  and  began  operations  January  1. 

There  were  1,845  miles  of  railway  in  operation. 

1871.  — Great  damage  to  the  crop  in  a large  portion  of  the  State 
on  account  of  excessive  rains  during  the  month  of  June. 

1872.  — The  Savannah,  Griffin  & North  Alabama  Railroad, 
now  the  Central  of  Georgia,  from  Griffin  to  Carrollton  (60  miles) 
was  completed  in  this  year. 

On  June  11,  the  cotton  merchants  of  Savannah  held  a meeting 
at  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  and  organized  a Cotton  Exchange. 

1873.  — On  one  acre  of  sandy  land,  clay  subsoil,  and  which  had 
been  in  cultivation  sixty  or  seventy  years,  T.  C.  Warthen,  of 
Washington  county,  produced  five  bales  of  cotton  weighing  about 
500  pounds  each.  The  land  was  fertilized  with  1,400  .pounds  of 
Peruvian  guano,  60  ox-cart  loads  of  raw  pine  straw,  60  bushels 
of  green  cotton  seed  and  400  bushels  of  well  rotted  stable  manure. 
This  was  plowed  under  with  a double-horse-plow,  followed  by  a 
sixteen-inch  scooter,  breaking  up  the  soil  from  13  to  16  inches. 
The  land  was  checked  off  in  rows  3 feet  apart,  and  the  cotton 
seed — -“Dickson’s  Cluster’’ — planted  in  hills  on  the  13th  of  May. 
In  Ttine  the  plants  were  thinned  to  one  stalk  to  the  hill.  The  only 
implement  used  in  cultivation  was  a twenty-four-inch  sweep,  the 
plants  growing  so  rapidly  as  to  prevent  the  vegetation  of  grass  or 
weeds. 

The  destruction  by  the  cotton-worm  was  the  worst  ever  ex- 
perienced. Five  counties  reported  a loss  of  half  the  crop,  and 
seventeen  counties  a loss  varying  from  25  to  50  per  cent. 

The  Atlanta  & Charlotte  Air  Line,  now  the  Southern  Rail- 
way, from  Charlotte,  N.  C.,  to  Atlanta  (286%  miles),  was  com- 
pleted and  opened  September  28. 

1874.  — R.  H.  Hardaway,  of  Thomasville,  estimated  for  a series 


KING  COTTON 


115 


of  years  the  cost  of  raising  cotton  per  pound,  as  follows : 1866, 

11.5  cents ; 1867,  12.5  cents ; 1868,  12.25  cents ; 1869,  10.9  cents ; 
1870,  8.6  cents;  1871,  13.61  cents;  1872,  10.77  cents.  The  same 
year  David  Dickson,  of  Sparta,  stated  that  when  cotton  is  below 
16  cents,  the  tenant  and  landlord,  in  four  cases  out  of  five,  lose 
money.  He  estimated  that  two  hands,  on  an  average  without 
manure  would  make  only  about  three  bales  (of  400  pounds  each). 

C.  W.  Howard,  of  Kingston,  in  an  article  on  the  “Condition  of 
Agriculture  in  the  Cotton  States,”  said  that  “the  average  yield  of 
cotton  in  Georgia,  according  to  the  sworn  returns  of  the  tax  re- 
ceivers, was  one  bale  to  3 yi  acres.” 

A Convention  of  Cotton  Exchanges  met  at  Augusta  in  June, 
and  recommended  the  adoption  of  a uniform  classification  of  cot- 
ton throughout  the  United  States  to  be  called  the  Standard  Ameri- 
can Classification.  The  classification  adopted  represented  the 
following  grades : good  middling,  middling,  low  middling,  good 
ordinary  and  ordinary. 

1875.  — Hon.  Philip  Cook,  of  Georgia,  introduced  in  the  House 
of  Representatives  a bill  to  refund  the  tax  collected  on  cotton  from 
1863  to  1868. 

A law  passed  in  Georgia  after  the  Civil  War,  said  the 
Bankers’  Monthly,  enabled  commission  merchants  to  take  out  a 
lien  upon  farmers’  crops  for  loans  advanced.  The  farmers  vigor- 
ously and  successfully  clamored  for  a repeal  of  the  law.  They 
now  (February,  1875)  seek  its  readoption,  finding  that  without  it 
they  cannot  get  any  advance  money  from  the  merchants  with 
which  to  pay  their  hands. 

1876.  — The  price  of  fertilizers  sold  on  time  was  $55.97  per 
ton.  The  average  price  per  pound  allowed  for  cotton  in  payment 
therefor,  was  14.39  cents. 

“America  is  no  longer  beyond  the  rivalry  of  East  Indian 
cotton,”  said  the  editor  of  the  American  Agriculturist.  “But 
there  are  now  in  Georgia  alone  over  forty  cotton  factories,  and  • 
others  are  building,  and  Georgia  is  a more  profitable  consumer 
for  Georgia  cotton  than  any  foreign  country  can  possibly  be.” 

A Milton  county  planter  reported  a product  of  1,900  pounds 
of  seed  cotton  per  acre,  on  light  gray  soil,  manured  with  200 
pounds  of  super-phosphates. 


116 


GEORGIA 


The  Elberton  Air  Line,  now  the  Southern  Railway,  from 
Elberton  to  Toccoa  (50  miles)  was  completed  in  December. 

1875'. — Burke  county  produced  the  largest  crop,  29,172  bales, 
and  Polk  county  the  highest  yield  per  acre,  .48  of  a bale. 

There  were  two  cotton  oil  mills  in  the  State. 

The  Department  of  Agriculture  estimated  the  loss  from  the 
cotton-worm  from  1865  to  1878,  inclusive,  at  474,600  bales. 

The  crop  for  the  first  time  exceeded  800,000  bales. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Georgia,  1880-1889 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1880-81 

Bales 

1,009,260 

798,000 

Bales 

69,750 

1881-82 

88,970  • 
98.470 

1882-83 

942,000 

752,500 

807,400 

960,025 

1883-84 

106,964 

99,414 

do 

1884-85 

1885-86 

119,862 

do 

do 

1886-87 

861,720 

947,158 

953,623 

1,191,846 

125,170 

140,481 

53 

349,277 

1887-88 

361.684 

1888-89 

133,477 

55 

388,342 

1889-90 

145,859 

53 

445,452 

1880.  — For  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  State  the  crop 
reached  1,000,000  bales. 

There  were  2,459  miles  of  railway  in  operation. 

1881.  — The  Department  of  Agriculture  estimated  that  the  boll- 
worm  destroyed  20,958  bales  of  cotton. 

The  Waycross  & Florida  Branch  of  the  Plant  System,  from 
Waycross  to  St.  Mary’s  river,  began  operations  this  year;  also 
the  East  Florida  Railroad  from  the  Georgia  state  line  to  Jackson- 
ville. 

The  great  Cotton  Exposition  was  opened  at  Atlanta  in  Oc- 
tober of  this  year. 

At  the  Atlanta  Cotton  Exposition  the  Governor  of  Georgia 
made  his  appearance  dressed  in  a suit  of  clothes  made  of  cotton- 
ade,  manufactured  on  the  grounds,  from  cotton  that  had  been 
picked  from  the  fields  on  the  same  day  in  full  view  of  the  visitors 
to  the  Exposition. 

1882.  — A Board  of  Trade  was  organized  at  Columbus,  and  was 
incorporated  in  ISPO. 


KING  COTTON 


117 


1883. — About  this  time  there  were  37  cotton  oil  mills  in 
operation. 

1881. — The  Gainsville,  Jefferson  & Southern  Railroad,  from 
Gainesville  to  Jeft'erson  and  Florence  (65  miles),  was  opened  for 
traffic  March  8. 

The  Columbus  & Rome  Railroad,  now  the  Central  of 
Georgia,  was  completed  from  Columbus  to  Greenville  (51  miles), 
during  this  year. 

1885. — As  early  as  the  month  of  March  this  year  the  spinners’ 
stocks  at  Augusta  were  so  nearly  exhausted  that  one  of  the  mills 
purchased  1,000  bales  to  be  delivered  from  New  Orleans. 

1887.  — The  Georgia,  Midland  & Gulf  Railroad,  now  the  South- 
ern Railway,  from  Columbus  to  iMcDonough  (98  miles),  was 
completed  in  September. 

The  Marietta  & North  Georgia  Railroad,  now  the  Atlanta, 
Knoxville  & Northern  Railway,  from  Alarietta  to  Murphy,  North 
Carolina  (111  miles)  was  completed  this  year. 

1888.  — The  Atlanta  & Florida  Railroad,  now  the  Southern 
Railway,  from  Atlanta  to  Fort  Valley  (104  miles),  was  opened 
this  year. 

Lice  and  cut-worms  caused  considerable  damage  to  cotton 
planted  early  in  the  season.  In  Dougherty  county  the  statement 
of  a correspondent  that  plant-lice  were  more  destructive  than  for 
forty  years,  was  corroborated  by  similar  testimony  from  several 
other  counties  in  the  State. 

1889'.- — As  early  as  the  middle  of  September,  Newton,  Morgan 
and  Marion  counties  reported  a probable  loss  of  from  20  to  33 
per  cent,  due  to  the  boll-worm. 

Burke  county  had  the  largest  acreage  in  cotton  and  also  the 
highest  total  yield,  viz:  111,774  acres  and  37,714  bales. 

The  Florida  Central  & Peninsular  Railroad,  now  the  Sea- 
board Air  Line,  from  Savannah  to  Jacksonville  (about  171  miles) 
was  chartered,  and  completed  within  a few  years. 

The  Georgia  Pacific  Railway,  now  the  Southern  Railway  from 
Atlanta  to  Greenville,  Miss.  (439  miles)  was  completed  from 
Atlanta  to  Columbus,  Miss.  (291  miles)  in  1887,  and  to  Green- 
ville in  1889. 

There  were  3 print  mills  in  the  State.  In  the  manufacture  of 


118 


GEORGIA 


higher  grade  cotton  goods,  Georgia  stood  in  the  front  of  the 
Southern  States,  being  the  only  one  that  made  bleached  yarns. 
Georgia  and  South  Carolina  were  the  only  Southern  States  that 
were  bleaching  cloth,  the  total  amount  bleached  in  Georgia  being 
7,593,950  square  yards. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consu.mption  of  Cotton  in 
Georgia,  1890-1899 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
vSpindles 

1890-91 

Bales 

1.310.000 

Bales 

164,981 

62 

465,811 

1891-92 

1,200,000 

178,944 

57 

495,564 

1892-93 

940,000 

187,702 

59 

500,408 

1893-94 

1,000,000 

176,.303 

63 

515,712 

1894-95 

1,247,952 

218,685 

61 

551,806 

1895-96 

1,067,377 

200,636 

62 

607,251 

1896-97 

1,299,340 

227,831 

76 

683,407 

1897-98 

1,350,781 

285,219 

77 

709,406 

1898-99 

1,378,731 

281,527 

79 

696,394 

1899-00 

1,296,844 

318,.302 

86 

969,364 

1890.  — The  Brunswick  & Western  Railroad,  now  the  Plant 
System,  from  Brunswick  to  Albany  (172  miles)  was  completed 
about  this  time.  The  Georgia,  Southern  & Florida,  now 
operated  by  the  Southern  Railway,  from  Macon  to  Palatka, 
Florida  (258  miles)  was  chartered  in  1885  and  completed 
March  1. 

There  were  4,601  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this  year. 

1891.  — On  Wednesday,  March  18,  of  this  year  the  receipts  of 
cotton  at  Savannah  reached  1,000,000  bales,  the  highest  number 
to  date  ever  received  in  one  season  at  that  port.  The  Cotton 
Exchange  gave  a banquet  in  celebration  of  the  event. 

The  Georgia  & Alabama  Railroad,  now  the  Seaboard  Air 
Line,  from  Lyons  to  Montgomery,  Ala.  (265  miles),  was  com- 
pleted near  the  close  of  the  year. 

The  Macon,  Dublin  & Savannah  Railroad,  from  Macon  to 
Dublin  (54  miles),  was  chartered  in  1885  and  completed  this  year. 

1892.  — The  Georgia,  Carolina  & Northern  Railway,  now  the 
Seaboard  Air  Line,  from  Monroe,  N.  C.,  to  Atlanta  (266  miles), 
was  chartered  in  April,  1887,  and  opened  for  traffic  April  24,  of 
this  year. 

A Convention  of  Cotton  Planters  and  Factors  was  held  Jan- 
uary 27,  at  Augusta,  the  object  being  to  induce  planters  to  reduce 


KING  COTTON 


119 


the  cotton  acreage  in  1892,  by  20  per  cent.  Resolutions  to  this 
effect  were  adopted,  and  also  the  following;  “That  to  meet  the 
present  and  prospective  depreciation  of  cotton,  threatening  bank- 
ruptcy, a moderate  license  tax  be  placed  on  cotton  acreage  for  a 
period  of  four  years,  to  lift  the  burden  from  all  other  crops  and 
restraining  the  unprofitable  culture  of  cotton.” 

1893. — At  the  State  Experiment  Station  the  varieties  showing 
the  highest  yield  of  seed  cotton  per  acre,  were,  in  the  order 
named:  Duncan’s,  Jones'  Improved,  Hawkins,  Bearing’s  Small 
Seed,  King’s,  etc. 

Director  R.  J.  Redding,  of  the  State  Experiment  Station,  said  : 
“It  is  a very  prevalent  belief  that  a variety  of  cotton  that  will  yield 
the  larger  proportion  of  lint  to  the  hundred-weight  of  seed  is  to 
be  preferred.  This  belief  is  based  on  the  assumption  that  a 
large  yield  of  lint  in  proportion  to  seed  indicates  a large  yield 
of  lint  per  acre.  It  is  a plausible  theory,  but  experiments  show 
that  there  is  no  relation  between  the  yield  of  lint  per  hundred 
pounds  of  seed  cotton  and  the  total  yield  of  lint  per  acre.’’ 

1895.  — W.  G.  Cross,  of  Bibb  county,  was  reported  to  have 
raised  2,360  pounds  of  lint  cotton  on  one  acre  at  a cost  of  2.21 
cents  a pound. 

1896.  — The  sea-island  cotton  crop  this  year  amounted  to  61,668 
bales,  the  largest  crop  to  date,  of  this  variety,  ever  produced  in 
the  State.  In  1879  the  Census  reported  a production  of  only 
3,420  bales. 

Of  the  twenty  varieties  of  cotton  experimented  with  at  the 
State  Experiment  Station,  the  following  in  the  order  named 
showed  the  highest  yield  of  seed  cotton  per  acre : Strickland’s 
Improved,  Texas  Oak,  X'ancy  Hanks,  Allen’s  Improved  Long 
Staple,  Cleveland’s  Improved,  and  Jones’  Improved. 

At  a meeting  held  on  January  6th  the  Augusta  Cotton 
Exchange  and  Board  of  Trade  endorsed  the  resolutions  of  the 
Memphis  Cotton  Exchange,  urging  planters  not  to  increase  their 
cotton  acreage  over  that  of  1895. 

As  ascertained  by  the  Department  of  Agriculture  the  average 
cost  of  making  a pound  of  upland  cotton  this  year  was  5.23 
cents,  and  of  sea-island  cotton,  9.99  cents  per  pound. 

1897.  — A report  of  the  Director  of  the  State  Experiment 


120 


GEORGIA 


Station  said,  that  Allen’s  Long  Staple  had  again  proved  to  be  the 
most  productive  long  staple  upland  cotton  ever  cultivated  at  the 
Station.  It  would  probably  fetch  2 or  3 cents  per  pound  more 
than  the  ordinary  uplands  if  offered  to  a special  buyer  in  large 
lots. 

1898.  — In  November  about  6,000  cotton  mill  operatives  at 
Augusta  struck  against  a 10  per  cent,  reduction  of  wages.  The 
strike  was  settled  the  latter  part  of  January  following. 

In  1878  there  were  no  cotton-seed-oil  mills  in  the  State.  In 
1890  there  were  17,  with  a capital  of  $992,131,  paying  $1,298,421 
for  material  that  gave  a product  worth  $1,670,196.  By  1900 
there  were  46  of  these  mills,  paying  $3,246,814  for  seed  that 
yielded  a product  valued  at  $4,787,100. 

The  largest  crop  in  the  history  of  the  State  to  date,  1,378,731 
bales,  was  produced  this  year. 

The  Savannah  Cotton  Exchange  passed  the  following  resolu- 
tion : “That  we  indorse  the  report  of  the  committee  of  the  Con- 
vention of  Interior  Compress  Association  of  Carolina,  Georgia, 
Alabama  and  Mississippi,  on  May  12,  1898,  and  urge  the  planters 
and  ginners  to  adopt  the  24  x 54  press  box,  and  recommend  that 
the  necessary  alterations  be  made  in  time  for  the  next  crop.” 

During  the  fall  months  of  this  year  the  average  price  obtained 
for  cotton  by  the  planters  of  Burke  county  was  only  a fraction 
over  4 cents  per  pound. 

1899.  — During  this  year  183,907  farmers  cultivated  3,513,839 
acres  in  cotton,  of  which  170,756  acres  were  planted  in  sea-island 
cotton.  The  production  of  this  area  was  594,168,407  pounds 
(lint)  of  upland  and  22,173,574  pounds  of  (lint)  sea-island 
cotton,  or  an  average  yield  of  175  pounds  to  the  acre. 

There  were  4,729  cotton  gins  in  operation  in  1899 ; 4,670  in 
1900,  and  4,793  in  1901.  The  Census  estimates  that  the  average 
output  of  each  establishment  during  each  season  was,  respectively, 
274,  272  and  293  bales.  The  average  cost  for  ginning  and  baling 
square  bales  in  1899  was  $1.26 ; round  bales,  90  cents,  and  sea- 
island  cotton,  $3.59  per  bale. 

Burke  county  made  the  largest  crop  this  year,  46,152  bales. 

The  cotton  mills  of  Richmond  county,  all  of  which  are  located 
at  Augusta,  consumed  this  year  about  52,000  bales ; those  of 


KING  COTTON 


121 


Fulton  county,  about  32,000,  and  IMuscogee  county,  about  31,000 ; 
total  115,000  bales.  The  total  production  of  these  counties  was 
not  quite  12,500  bales. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Georgia,  1900-1908 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

N umber 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1900-01 

Bales 

1,270,597 

1,405.092 

1, 509,199- 
1,329,278 

Bales 

107 

1.016.258 

1901-02 

381,960 

115 

1,220, .374 

1902-03 

417,871 

115 

1,292,695 

1903-04 

447.138 

116 

1,.391,788 

1904-05 

1,968,260 

493,456 

119 

1,490,138 

1905-06 

1,729,472 

1,632,703 

1,860,323 

524,199 

125 

1,587,470 

1906-07 

538,597 

126 

1,708,554 

1907-08 

475,936 

129 

1,787,696 

1900.  — The  Savannah  Cotton  Exchange  adopted  a rule  that 
all  sales  of  cotton  in  square  bales  shall  be  based  on  packages  of 
standard  size ; 21  x 54  inches,  and  when  bales  of  other  dimensions 
are  tendered  for  delivery  an  allowance  of  25  cents  per  bale  shall 
be  made  to  the  buyer  by  the  seller  on  such  cotton. 

The  Sea-Island  Cotton  Growers’  Association  met  at  Valdosta 
in  October,  and  advanced  the  price  of  their  staple  to  23  cents  per 
pound. 

The  first  new  bale  of  the  season  was  received  at  Savannah 
July  28.  In  1899  the  first  new  bale  was  received  July  28;  in 
1898,  July  29';  in  1897,  August  2;  in  1896,  Jul}^  28;  and  in  1895, 
August  12. 

The  “Jackson  African  Limbless”  variety  attracted  considerable 
attention,  and  a stock  company  was  formed  to  propagate  and  sell 
the  seed.  The  prospectus  of  the  company  promised  the  pur- 
chasers a dividend  of  300  per  cent.,  as  the  company  had  been 
“repeatedly  offered  from  $200  to  $1,000  a bushel  for  the  seed.” 
The  Director  of  the  Georgia  Experiment  Station,  R.  E.  Redding, 
declared  that  this  variety  was  not  an  African  cotton,  but  was 
Welborn’s  Pet,  a well-known  variety  at  that  time. 

1901.  — The  attention  of  the  State  Department  of  Agriculture 
was  called  to  the  prevalence  in  many  sections  of  the  State  of  a 
destructive  disease  known  as  anthracnose. 

The  Interstate  Southern  Cotton  Growers’  Association  was 


122 


GEORGIA 


organized  in  February  at  Atlanta,  with  Harvie  Jordan,  of  Monti- 
cello,  as  president. 

James  Barrett,  vice-president  of  the  State  Agricultural 
Society,  stated  that  in  working  a one-horse  crop  of  cotton  it 
required  two  and  one-half  hands,  or  five  hands  to  two  plows.  Or, 
it  would  require  two  hands  and  a half  grown  child  for  each  mule. 
Very  few  farmers  ever  made  ten  bales  to  the  plow. 

1902.  — The  first  new  bale  was  received  at  Savannah  on  July 
22,  from  Albany. 

1903.  — The  stocks  at  interior  towns  at  the  close  of  the  season, 
August  31,  amounted  to  only  a little  over  6,000  bales,  the  smallest 
for  very  man}-  years. 

There  were  six  large  cotton  mills  at  Columbus  operating 

154.000  spindles,  4,000  looms,  employing  4,000  hands  and  paying 
out  $18,450  in  wages  every  week,  consuming  annually  from 

40.000  to  50,000  bales  of  cotton,  and  representing  a capitalization 
of  $2,400,000. 

1905.  — Early  in  the  spring  the  Southern  Cotton  Association 
began  a crusade  to  reduce  the  cotton  acreage  in  this  and  other 
States.  In  the  fall  the  Association  estimated  the  crop  at  9,650,000 
bales. 

The  Southern  Cotton  Association  officials  visited  Washington 
for  the  purpose  of  protesting  against  the  Agricultural  Depart- 
ment’s estimate  of  the  cotton  acreage  made  June  2.  On  July  25 
the  Department  revised  its  acreage,  changing  the  reduction  from 
11.4  to  14.9  per  cent.,  making  a total  of  26,999,000  acres  planted, 
or  4,371,000  acres  less  than  that  of  1904.  This  remarkable 
revision  was  justified  by  the  Department  upon  the  ground  that  the 
Statistician,  “Mr.  Hyde,  with  Mr.  Holmes  at  his  elbow  prompting 
him,  made  the  estimate  higher  than  the  facts  at  his  hand  from  the 
reports  from  the  seven  classes  of  reporters  employed  by  the 
Bureau  warranted.”  As  a result  of  this,  and  the  exposure  of  a 
“leak”  in  the  Bureau’s  cotton  reports.  Statistician  Hyde  was  forced 
to  resign  and  leave  the  country,  while  his  assistant.  Holmes,  was 
indicted  and  prosecuted  by  the  government. 

1906. - — The  Southern  Cotton  Association  (May  31)  estimated 
the  area  planted  in  cotton  as  27,735,870  acres.  The  Department 
of  Agriculture’s  estimate  was  28,686,000  acres,  but  this  was 


KING  COTTON 


123 


revised  the  following  year  to  32,049,000  acres,  3,368,000  acres 
being  added  to  the  original  estimate. 

1907.  — The  Legislature  passed  an  act  prohibiting  speculation 
in  cotton  futures. 

Referring  to  the  effects  produced  upon  sea-island  cotton 
culture  by  the  invention  of  the  sewing  machine,  W.  A.  Gordon 
in  an  address  to  the  National  Association  of  Cotton  Manufac- 
turers at  Boston  said:  “The  invention  of  the  sewing  machine 
worked  a revolution  in  the  production  of  sea-island  cotton.  It 
was  found  that  thread  made  from  upland  cotton  could  not  stand 
the  jerk  of  the  sewing  machine,  and  it  became  necessary  to 
find  a substitute.  The  genuine  sea-island  cotton  was  too  expen- 
sive and  yielded  too  small  a quantity  for  the  uses  of  the  trade. 
In  seeking  to  meet  this  demand,  it  was  discovered  that  the  level, 
sandy  pine  lands  of  Georgia  (which  were  not  adapted  to  the  A 
seed  used  in  Florida)  would  produce  a good  style  of  sea-island 
cotton  of  a coarser  variety.  After  some  experiments,  the 
Carolina  planter  succeeded  in  producing  a seed  known  as  ‘The 
Gordon  C seed,’  or  ‘Gordon  Low  Bush’  seed,  which  was  very 
prolific ; produced  a staple  somewhat  coarser  and  shorter  than  the 
island  cotton ; gave  a yield  of  one  pound  of  lint  to  three  of  seed 
on  the  Georgia  lands,  and  yielded  per  acre  nearly  as  much  as 
upland  cotton.  This  cotton  was  found  to  meet  exactly  the 
requirements  of  the  thread  men,  and  as  it  could  be  produced 
cheaply,  a large  acreage  in  the  crop  took  place.” 

According  to  the  Census  there  were  4,567  cotton  gins  in  opera- 
tion, the  average  output  of  each  gin  being  408  bales. 

There  were  137  cotton-oil  mills  in  the  State  that  consumed 
381,399  tons  of  seed,  costing  $7,063,509.  The  value  of  the  prod- 
ucts, including  linters,  was  $9,992,581. 

1908.  — “Brown’s  Number  One  ” is  the  name  of  a popular 
variety  of  cotton  seed,  propagated  after  many  years  of  careful 
experimenting  by  Marcus  L.  Brown,  of  Decatur,  Dekalb  county. 
It  is  an  early  variety,  long  limbed,  large  bolls  (5  locks  to  the 
boll),  is  easily  picked,  and  yields  a very  high  percentage  of  lint. 
On  one  acre  a Jackson  county  pla'nter  made  as  much  as  3,987 
pounds  of  seed  cotton,  which  turned  out  at  the  gin  1,590  pounds 
of  lint. 


CHAPTER  VI 


Florida,  and  its  Cotton  Crops  from  1820  to  1908 — Number 
OF  Cotton  IMills  and  Spindles  and  Domestic  Consump- 
tion OF  Cotton — Historical  Data  Relating  to  Cotton 
Production. 

Captain  Robinson,  an  Englishman  who  visited  the  coast  of 
Florida  in  1754,  says  the  “cotton  tree  was  growing  in  that 
country,’”-  and  William  Roberts,  in  an  “Account  of  the  Discovery 
and  Natural  Flistory  of  Florida,”  published  in  London  in  1763, 
says ; “mulberries,  grapes,  and  olives  grow  spontaneously,  and  if 

1 am  not  mistaken,  I was  told  by  the  Spaniards,  they  have  the 
cotton  tree,  being  probable  enough,  as  it  grows  in  Georgia  in  the 
same  climate,  not  many  miles  distant.” 

There  is  another  statement  (1766)  that  “Cotton  also  grows 
wild  here  in  great  abundance,”'  but  what  section  of  Florida  is 
alluded  to  is  uncertain,  for  Spanish  Florida  at  that  time  embraced 
all  the  territory  bounded  on  the  north  by  39°  38'  north  latitude, 
on  the  east  by  Altamaha  river,  on  the  south  by  the  Gulf  of  Mexico 
and  on  the  west  by  Louisiana  or  the  Mississippi  river.  The  same 
authority  says  that  in  1763  cotton  was  “so  plentiful  that  most  of 
the  civilized  inhabitants  are  clothed  of  manufacture  of  that 
natural  production.” 

Cotton  was  undoubtedly  cultivated  in  1765,  for  William 
Stork®  gives  this  extract  from  a letter  written  from  St.  Augustine 
(May  1765)  to  a friend  in  London : “I  am  informed  by  a gentle- 
man living  upon  St.  John’s  that  the  lands  on  that  river  below 
Piccolata,  are,  in  general,  good ; and  that  there  is  now  growing 
good  wheat,  Indian  corn,  indigo  and  cotton.” 

There  are  no  available  records  showing  the  production  of 
cotton  in  Florida  prior  to  its  acquisition  by  the  United  States  in 
1819,  but  it  is  probable  that  it  was  cultivated  to  some  extent  from 

^ The  Cotton  Plant.  Dept,  of  Agriculture. 

2 Universal  History;  London  edition,  1766. 

^ Description  of  East  Florida;  17C5. 


124 


KING  COTTON 


125 


the  date  of  its  introduction.  The  adaptability  of  the  soil  and 
climate,  to  the  production  of  a superior  quality  of  sea-island 
cotton,  was  known  not  many  years  after  this  variety  was  success- 
fullv  introduced  in  Georgia,  and  it  was  profitably  cultivated  the 
first  years  of  the  last  century  by  English  settlers  from  the 
Bahama  Islands.  Speaking  of  the  rich  swamp  lands  of  Florida 
(1812)  Stoddard^  says:  "They  produced  large  crops  of  rice, 
and  in  some  instances  the  best  cotton,  corn  and  indigo  in  the 
country.  ^^Tst  Florida,  as  already  hinted,  exhibits  the  greatest 
fertility.  The  country  produces  plenty  of  indigo,  flax  and 
tobacco,  but  cotton  is  now  the  staple  crop.” 

In  the  decade  1820-30  the  production  increased  from  1,500  to 
10,000  bales.  In  the  next  two  decades  it  increased  from  33,000 
to  50,000  bales.  The  largest  crops  produced  prior  to  the  Civil 
l\’ar  were  65,000  bales  in  1855,  and  about  the  same  quantity  in 
1859.  Beginning  with  a production  of  40,766  bales  the  flrst  year 
after  the  war  (1866),  the  largest  crop  made  in  each  succeeding 
decade  until  1900,  was  as  follows:  1870-1880,  75,000  bales;  1880- 
1890,  78,000  bales;  1890-1900,  65,000  bales.  The  largest  crop  in 
the  history  of  the  State  was  78,838  bales,  produced  in  1904. 


Co.M.MERCI.\L  CoTTOX  CROPS  OF  FLORIDA,  1820-1829 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1820-21 

1.500 

2.500 

3,000 

4.500 

6.500 

1825-26 

7.500 

10,000 

7.000 

6.000 

5,787 

1821-22 

1826-27 

1822-23 

1827-28 

1823-24 

1828-29 

1824-25 

1829-30 

1822. — In  1822,  Mr.  Anderson,  an  enterprising  planter  from 
South  Carolina,  had  40  or  50  hands  employed  in  raising  cotton  at 
the  Orange  Grove  plantation  on  Flalifax  river,  within  4 miles  of 
Pelican  Islands. 

“The  planters  upon  Tomoca  river  and  its  vicinity,”  says 
Mgnoles,'  “are  almost  wholly  English  settlers  from  the  Bahamas, 
who,  quitting  those  sterile  rocks,  came  hither  to  avail  themselves 
of  a better  soil;  all  of  them  have  prospered,  and  several  have 


^ History  of  Louisiana. 

" Obser\-ations  Upon  the  Floridas. 


126 


FLORIDA 


become  very  rich  by  raising  sea-island  cotton,  which  for  some 
years  previous  to  this  period  (1822)  well  repaid  their  labors. 
The  resident  gentlemen  on  Amelia,  Talbot  and  Ft.  George  Islands, 
at  Pablo,  Matanzas  and  at  Tomoco,  have  cultivated  it  for  many 
years  and  their  brands  have  ever  commanded  the  first  prices  in 
the  markets  of  Savannah  and  Charleston,  particularly  those  of 
our  respected  delegate,  Joseph  M.  Hernandez,  Esq.,  from  his 
plantation.  Mala  Compra,  at  Matanzas,  of  which,  by  the  way,  it 
may  be  remarked  that  the  soil  (high  hammock)  is  now  as  white 
and  as  sandy  as  the  beach  of  the  Atlantic,  and  yet  most  luxuriant 
crops  are  annually  produced.  Here,  and  at  other  plantations, 
exists  a practice  of  cutting  down  the  old  cotton  stalks  and  suffer- 
ing the  shoots  therefrom  to  spring  up,  which  yield  with  but  little 
trouble  a cotton  no  way  inferior  to  the  first  crop ; this  is  called 
‘ratoon  cotton.’  ” 

182-1. — “Cotton  was  planted  as  early  as  1824,”  said  the  Ameri- 
can Farmer  (1825),  “how  extensively  is  a question.  In 
November,  1824,  John  C.  Calhoun  of  South  Carolina,  while  in 
Washington,  and  then  Secretary  of  War,  received  some  samples 
of  cotton  from  John  Gamier,  Esq.,  of  Santa  Rosa,  accompanied 
with  the  following  memoranda;  No.  1 — from  sea-island  seed. 
No.  2 — from  Mississippi  and  Mexican  seed.  No.  3 — from  Mexi- 
can, or  white  seed.  No.  4 — from  Mississippi  seed.  These  cotton 
samples  had  been  sent  to  P.  T.  Jackson  of  the  Waltham  Manufac- 
tory to  examine  and  give  his  opinion  upon,  and  were  then  sent 
to  Washington.  It  was  pronounced  to  be  as  good  as  the  other 
cottons  of  the  country,  except  it  was  not  quite  so  strong  in 
fiber.” 

1825. — Samples  of  sea-island  cotton  of  Florida  growth  and 
produced  in  the  western  portion  of  the  State,  were  exhibited  at 
Pensacola  and  pronounced  to  be  equal  to  that  produced  elsewhere. 

The  crops  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the  State  were  almost 
destroyed  by  the  caterpillar. 

It  was  estimated  that  300  bales  of  sea-island  cotton  would  be 
raised  this  year  in  the  “Little  River  Settlement.” 

1827. — David  B.  McComb,  in  a letter  from  near  Tallahassee 
(written  at  the  request  of  Gov.  Wm.  P.  DuVal  for  the  informa- 
tion of  a proposed  Swiss  Colony  to  Florida  and  Alabama),  said: 


KING  COTTON 


127 


“The  two  grand  and  important  staples  of  the  territory  of  Florida, 
are  sea-island,  or  long  staple  cotton  and  sugar-cane.  * * The 

staples  of  indigo,  rice  and  cotton  of  South  Carolina,  Alabama  and 
Georgia  are  thrown  in  the  shade  when  compared  with  the 
abundant  crops  of  these  staples  in  Florida.” 

The  Pensacola  Gazette  estimated  that  50,000  bales  of  cotton, 
during  the  season  1827-28,  would  go  to  Apalachicola  from  the 
country  bordering  the  Chattahoochee,  Flint  and  Apalachicola 
rivers. 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  op  Florida,  1830-1839 


Year 

Total  Crop 

1830-31 

13.073 

1831-32 

11,321 

1832-33 

10.714 

1833-34 

15.774 

1834-35 

20.021 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1835-36 

19.940 

1836-37 

20.926 

1837-38 

26.543 

1838-39 

25.059 

1839-40 

33,359 

1830.  — The  cotton-worm  caused  considerable  damage  to  the 
crop  in  Leon  and  adjacent  counties. 

1831.  — The  cotton- worm  damaged  the  crop  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  State. 

Capt.  Pascal  Sheffield,  of  Southport,  Conn.,  and  a nephew  of 
the  Capt.  Robert  Sheffield  who  initiated  the  export  cotton  busi- 
ness from  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  about  the  beginning  of  the 
last  century,  during  this  year  took  out  the  first  cargo  of  cotton 
from  Apalachicola  to  Liverpool  “in  his  good  ship  ‘Warsaw.’  ” 

1834. — Three  varieties  of  cotton  were  planted  in  the  middle 
section  of  the  State  ; the  common  green  seed  originally  from  India, 
the  Mexican,  and  the  sea-island. 

1838. — The  crop  was  injured  by  the  caterpillar.  In  Leon 
county  it  appeared  early  in  August.  Col.  W’hitner  said : “The 
second  brood  stripped  the  plants  by  the  20th  of  September  and 
were  so  numerous  that,  after  devouring  the  entire  foliage,  they 
barked  the  limbs  and  stalks  and  ate  out  bolls  nearly  grown.” 

1839’. — Of  the  20  counties  reported  in  the  Census,  7 did  not 
produce  cotton.  The  counties  of  largest  production  were : Leon, 
Jefferson,  Gadsden,  Jackson  and  Madison. 


128 


FLORIDA 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  Florida,  1840-1849 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1840-41 

23.388 

28,604 

40,272 

21.845 

47,173 

1845-46 

28,913 

31,963 

38,444 

50,037 

45,131 

1841-42 

1846-47 

1842-43 

1847-48 

1843-44 

1848-49 

1S44-45 

1849-60 

1840.  — jMcCarty  obtained  a patent  for  a sea-island  cotton  gin 
with  a roller  4 inches  in  diameter  and  3 feet  long,  dressed  with 
leather  arranged  spirally  around  it.  The  roller  revolved  over  and 
in  loose  contact  with  a plate  of  sheet  iron.  The  cotton  was  re- 
ceived and  drawn  in  between  the  two,  and  the  seed  separated  by 
means  of  a thin  steel  bar  placed  horizontally  and  operating  ver- 
tically in  front  of  the  roller  and  with  great  rapidity.  This  gin 
came  into  general  use  and  was  popular  with  sea-island  planters 
for  many  years.  A gin  costing  $100  and  propelled  by  one  horse 
would  clean  from  150  to  200  pounds  a day. 

In  the  northern  part  of  the  State  the  caterpillar  damaged  the 
crop.  In  many  localities  not  more  than  half  a crop  was  made. 

1841.  — There  was  a loss  of  about  20  per  cent,  of  the  crop  in 
INIadison  and  Leon  counties  on  account  of  the  ravages  of  the 
caterpillar. 

1843.  — During  the  period  1833-1843  the  Government  sold 
441,566  acres  of  land  in  this  State. 

1844.  — The  boll-worm  made  its  appearance,  and  caused  some 
damage,  but  notwithstanding  a larger  crop  than  usual  was 
gathered. 

1845.  — Florida  was  admitted  into  the  Union  IMarch  3. 

1846.  — The  caterpillar  caused  considerable  loss  .to  the  crop 
throughout  the  State. 

Perhaps  the  first  experiment  made  with  negro  labor  in  a cotton 
mill  was  undertaken  this  year  at  Arcadia,  a short  distance  from 
Pensacola.  The  Pensacola  Gazette  said  of  this  mill : “The 
building  is  94  x 38  feet,  two  stories  high,  with  960  spindles,  40 
operators,  all  black  girls,  from  15  to  20  years,  most  of  whom  are 
married  and  who  look  happy  and  contented  with  their  vocation. 
They  are  comfortably  lodged,  well  fed,  well  clothed,  and  kindly 
treated.”  The  mill  also  contained  24  looms  and  made  twills  and 
other  cotton  goods. 


WEIGHING  COTTON  AFTER  THE  DAY’S  PICKING. 
Courtesy  of  A.  Simon,  iMonticello,  Fla. 


KING  COTTON 


129 


1849. — Frosts  about  the  middle  of  April  damaged  the  young 
crop. 

Dr.  David  L.  White  stated  that  the  average  yield  per  acre  was 
800  pounds,  and  per  hand  from  3 to  4 bales.  The  Petit  Gulf 
variety  was  preferred.  The  seed  for  sea-island  cotton  was 
obtained  from  South  Carolina. 

The  Census  returns  from  Leon  county  showed  the  largest  total 
production,  16,107  bales  of  400  pounds  each. 


Commercial  Crops  axd- Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Florida,  L‘^50-18.o9 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

i'iumber 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

18.50-51 

Bales 

44,863 

Bales 

406 

No  data 

No  data 

1851-52 

57,143 

542 

do 

do 

1852-53 

62,442 

728 

do 

do 

1853-54 

56,205 

670 

do 

do 

1854-55 

52,000 

614 

do 

do 

1855-56 

65,000 

625 

do 

do 

1856-57 

56.545 

701 

do 

do 

1857-58 

59,5.38 

646 

do 

do 

1858-59 

48.606 

713 

do 

do 

1859-60 

65.1.53 

435 

1 

1,600 

1850. — The  area  in  cotton  was  considerably  increased. 

There  were  21  miles  of  railway  in  operation  in  the  State  this 
year. 

1852. — The  crop  of  Leon  county  was  injured  this  year  by  the 
caterpillar. 

1854.  — John  Finlayson,  of  Jefferson  county,  estimated  the 
average  yield  per  acre  for  ten  years  throughout  Middle  Florida, 
at  250  pounds  of  lint.  The  cost  of  production  and  carriage  to 
market  he  put  at  about  $4.50  per  hundred  pounds. 

1855.  — W.  P.  Wright,  a cotton  broker  of  New  York,  in  a 
circular  said : “Uplands,  and  particularly  Florida’s,  are  both 
good  in  staple  and  color  and  remarkably  clean  and  free  from 
leaf.  They  seem  to  be  properly  appreciated,  almost  for  the  first 
time,  in  Liverpool.  I have  seen  samples  of  sales  at  % pence  per 
pound  more  than  the  same  grade  of  Orleans,  owing  to  the  supe- 
rior staple  and  freedom  from  leaf.”  “This  mention  of  our  Florida 
cotton,”  said  a correspondent  of  the  Floridan,  “is  the  first  compli- 
mentary notice  of  the  kind  I ever  saw  from  such  a quarter,  and 

9 


130 


FLORIDA 


shows  we  can  make  as  good  cotton  as  in  an}'  part  of  the  cotton 
region.” 

On  one  of  Gen.  Bailey's  plantations  in  Jefferson  County, 
from  320  acres  there  were  gathered  and  sent  to  market  364  bales, 
the  lightest  of  which  weighed  not  under  450  pounds. 

1859. — Leon  county  showed  the  highest  total  production, 
16,686  bales  of  400  pounds  each. 

The  Florida  Central  Railroad,  now  the  Seaboard  Air  Line, 
from  Jacksonville  to  Lake  City  (60  miles)  was  chartered  in  1851 
and  opened  this  year. 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  Florida,  1860-1869 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1860-61 

46,557 

No  data 
do 
do 
rlo 

1865-66 

No  data 
40,776 
56,612 
36,014 
39,789 

1661-62 

1866-67 

1862-63  

1867-68 

1863-64 

1868-69 

1S64-65 

1860-70 

1860. — There  were  402  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this  year. 

1866. — The  amount  of  the  tax  on  cotton  collected  by  the  Fed- 
eral Government  was  $97,488 ; in  1867,  $499,645 ; and  in  1868, 
$321,812. 

The  Florida  Branch  of  the  Atlantic  & Gulf  Railroad,  now 
the  Plant  System,  was  built  in  1867-68. 

The  northern  counties  lost  much  of  the  crop  on  account  of 
the  caterpillar. 

1869. — Leon  made  the  largest  crop  of  any  county  in  the  State, 
6,518  bales. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Florida,  1870-1879 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1870-71 

Bales 

60.000 

Bales 

No  data 

No  data 

No  data 

1871-72 

40,000 

do 

do 

do 

1872-73 

60,000 

do 

do 

do 

1873-74 

75,000 

do 

do 

do 

1874-75 

55.000 

60.000 

do 

do 

do 

1875-76 

268 

do 

do 

1876-77 

55,000 

254 

do 

do 

1877-78 

50,000 

302 

372 

do 

do 

1878-79 

39.255 

do 

do 

1879-80 

54,997 

350 

1 

816 

KING  COTTON 


131 


1870. — There  were  146  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this  year. 

1872.  — The  crop  was  considerably  damaged  by  the  caterpillar. 

1873.  — In  Jefferson,  Taylor,  Madison,  Suwanee,  Hamilton  and 
Columbia  counties  “the  damage  from  caterpillars  was  enormous.” 
A Taylor  county  correspondent  stated  that  “the  caterpillars  have 
nearly  stopped  cotton  culture  in  this  county.” 

1876. — A few  counties  reported  damage  by  the  caterpillar.  In 
Jefferson  and  IMadison  counties  the  crops  were  badly  injured. 

1878.  — The  cotton- worm  made  its  appearance  this  year,  but 
the  damag'e  was  not  great. 

1879.  — The  Department’s  estimate  of  damage  from  the  cotton- 
worm,  from  1865  to  1878  inclusive,  was  49,700  bales. 

Jefferson  county  returns  showed  the  largest  total  production, 
10,368  bales,  and  Levy  the  highest  yield  per  acre,  0.34  of  a bale. 


CO.M.MERCIAL  CrOPS  AND  CONSUMPTION  OF  CoTTON  IN 

Florida,  1880-1889 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1880-81 

Bales 

79,394 

Bales 

112 

No  data 

No  data 

1881-82 

43.000 

144 

do 

do 

1882-83 

62,000 

158 

do 

do 

1883-84 

58,900 

168 

do 

do 

1884-85 

57,300 

158 

do 

do 

1885-86 

73,837 

194 

do 

do 

1886-87 

59,332 

190 

1 

816 

1887-88 

66,179 

No  data 

No  data 

No  data 

1888-89 

68,543 

do 

do 

do 

1889-90 

57,298 

do 

do 

do 

1880.  — The  largest  crop  to  date,  79,394  bales,  was  produced 
this  year. 

There  were  518  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this  year. 

1881.  — Boll-worms,  according  to  the  Department  of  Agricul- 
ture, destroyed  4,077  bales  of  cotton. 

1882.  — The  early  part  of  the  season  was  marked  by  the 
presence  of  cotton  lice,  to  some  extent,  especially  in  the  North 
Atlantic  region.  In  June  and  July  cut-worms  made  necessary 
considerable  replanting  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State.  These 
insects  attracted  especial  attention  in  Gadsden  county. 

1883.  — The  Pensacola  & Atlantic  R.  R.,  now  the  Louisville 
& Nashville,  from  Pensacola  to  River  Junction  (161  miles),  where 


132 


FLORIDA 


it  connects  with  the  Seaboard  Air  Line,  was  chartered  in  1881 
and  completed  February  1. 

1881. — Considerable  damage  was  done  by  the  boll-worm. 

A Board  of  Trade  was  organized  at  Jacksonville  February  7. 

The  South  Florida  R.  R.,  now  the  Plant  System,  from  Sand- 
ford  to  Tampa  (115  miles)  was  chartered  in  1879  and  completed 
February  10. 

The  Jacksonville,  Pensacola,  & Mobile  R.  R.,  now  the  Sea- 
board Air  Line,  from  Lake  City  to  the  Chattahoochee  river,  was 
built  about  1884. 

1886. — The  Jacksonville,  Tampa  & Key  West  R.  R.,  from 
Jacksonville  to  Sanford  (125  miles)  was  opened  during  February. 

1888.  — The  rich  phosphate  deposits  of  Florida  were  opened 
this  year. 

1889.  — Jefferson  county  census  returns  show  the  largest  acre- 
age in  cotton  and  also  the  highest  total  production,  9,776  bales. 

The  Florida  Central  & Peninsular  R.  R.,  now  the  Seaboard 
Air  Line,  from  Jacksonville  to  the  Chattahoochee  river  (209 
miles),  where  it  connects  with  the  Louisville  & Nashville  R.  R. ; 
and  from  Fernandina  to  Cedar  Keys  (154  miles),  was  chartered 
in  1889.  The  old  Florida  Railroad,  between  Fernandina  and 
Cedar  Keys  was  opened  in  1861. 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  Florida,  1890-1899 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1890-91 

53.000 

189.5-96 

38,722 

1891-92 

65,000 

1896-97 

48,730 

1892-98 

45.000 

1897-98 

1893-94 

55.000 

1898-99 

35.064 

1894-95 

50.729 

1899-00 

56,821 

1890. — The  Georgia,  Southern,  & Florida  R.  R.,  from 
Palatka  to  Macon  (285  miles),  was  chartered  in  1885  and  opened 
March  1. 

There  were  2, 489%  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this  year. 

1894. — There  were  mined  in  the  State  this  year  589,174  tons 
of  phosphate. 

1896. — The  State  Experiment  Station  recommended  the  fol- 
lowing as  an  excellent  fertilizer  to  be  applied  per  acre,  on 


KING  COTTON 


133 


comparatively  fertile  soil;  100  pounds  of  acid  phosphate,  contain- 
ing at  least  14  per  cent,  of  available  phosphoric  acid ; 100  pounds 
of  upland  cotton-seed  meal;  50  pounds  of  Kainit.  This  applica- 
tion, it  said,  should  serve  to  produce  a good  yield,  while,  at  the 
same  time,  the  fertility  of  the  soil  will  be  maintained. 

The  average  cost  of  raising  upland  cotton  this  year,  as  ascer- 
tained by  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  was  5.35  cents,  and  of 
sea-island  cotton  11.13  cents  per  pound. 

1899. — According  to  the  Census  returns,  Aladison  county 
made  the  largest  crop,  the  yield  being  11,077  bales,  8,983  of  which 
were  sea-island  and  2,094  upland  cotton. 

There  were  3,234  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this  year. 

The  Atlantic,  Valdosta,  & Western  Railway  from  Jackson- 
ville, via  Crawford  to  Valdosta,  Ga.  (115  miles),  was  chartered 
November,  1897,  and  opened  on  June  15. 

There  were  236  cotton  gins  in  operation  in  1899 ; 246  in  1900, 
and  272  in  1901.  According  to  the  Census  the  average  output 
of  each  gin  each  season  was,  respectively,  241,  226  and  210  bales. 
The  average  cost  of  ginning  and  baling  upland  cotton  in  1899 
was  $1.62,  and  of  sea-island  cotton  $3.78  per  bale. 

The  total  area  devoted  to  cotton  this  year  was  221,829  acres. 
Of  this,  99,036  acres  were  planted  in  upland  and  122,793  acres  in 
sea-island  cotton.  The  yield  from  this  land  was  14,940,617 
pounds  of  (lint)  upland,  and  12,056,267  pounds  (lint)  of  sea- 
island  cotton,  or  an  average  yield  for  both  of  122  pounds  to  the 
acre.  The  largest  area  in  any  single  county,  29,508  acres,  was 
reported  by  Jackson  county. 

The  sea-island  cotton  crop  this  year,  31,238  bales,  was  the 
largest  ever  produced  in  the  State,  and  exceeded  the  production 
of  upland  cotton  by  5,655  bales.  The  sea-island  crop  was  now 
almost  twice  as  large  as  it  was  twenty  years  ago. 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  Florida,  ICOO-ICOS 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1900- 01 

1901- 02 

55,696 

59,144 

67,287 

58,752 

1904- 05 

1905- 06 

87,525 

78,838 

61,473 

56,668 

1902-03 

1906-07 

1903-04 

1907-08 

134 


FLORIDA 


1900.  — There  were  mined  in  the  State  this  year  709,423  tons 
of  phosphate. 

1901.  — Pensacola  began  to  attract  attention  as  a cotton  export- 
ing port,  and  buildings  were  erected  for  handling  cotton. 

1902.  — The  following  are  the  cotton  shipments  from  some  of 
the  largest  cotton  markets  in  the  State  during  the  season:  Jack- 
sonville, 2,966  bales ; Alachua,  3,093 ; Marianna,  4,538 ; Monti- 
cello,  4,928;  Gainesville,  5,503;  Madison  5,761;  and  Tallahassee, 
5,784  bales. 

1903.  — The  stocks  at  interior  towns  at  the  close  of  the  season, 
August  31,  were  the  smallest  ever  known,  consisting  of  less  than 
500  bales. 

The  sea-island  crop  this  year  was  the  smallest  in  some  years, 
amounting  to  only  23,995  bales. 

1907.  — According  to  the  Census  there  were  259  cotton  gins  in 
operation,  the  average  output  of  each  gin  being  219  bales. 

There  were  5 cotton  oil  mills  in  the  State  that  consumed  8,699 
tons  of  seeds,  costing  $155,625.  The  value  of  the  products,  in- 
cluding linters,  was  $237,627. 

1908.  — The  Sea-Island  Cotton  Association  of  Georgia  and 
Florida  held  a conference  at  Jacksonville  and  organized  a com- 
pany with  a capital  of  $250,000,  to  warehouse,  handle  and  finance 
the  sea-island  crop  each  year. 


CHAPTER  Vn 


Alabama,  and  its  Cotton  Chops  from  1807  to  1908 — Num- 
ber OF  Cotton  Mills  and  Spindles  and  Domestic  Con- 
sumption OF  Cotton — Historical  Data  Relating  to 
Cotton  Production. 

It  is  almost  impossible  to  fix  upon  any  definite  time  when 
cotton  culture  was  first  introduced  into  Alabama.  Even  before 
the  Revolutionary  War,  and  during  the  occupancy  of  the  Mobile 
territory  by  the  French  there  were  some  well  cultivated  planta- 
tions along-  the  Tensas  river,  and  also  on  the  Tombigbee  just 
above  its  confluence  with  the  Alabama  river.  Pickett^  says  that 
in  1728  the  Louisiana  colony,  which  then  occupied  lands  in  the 
southern  part  of  [Mississippi  and  Alabama,  was  in  a flourishing 
condition,  its  fields  being  well  cultivated,  by  more  than  2,000 
slaves,  in  cotton,  indigo,  tobacco  and  grain. 

M'hether  cotton  cultivation  at  this  time  was  carried  on  in  the 
Mobile  territory  is  unknown,  but  it  is  reasonably  certain  that  in 
1772  it  was  produced,  for  machines  for  separating  the  lint  from 
the  seed  were  then  in  use.  One  of  these  machines  is  thus 
described  by  Roman “It  is  a strong  frame  of  four  studs,  each 
about  four  feet  high  and  joined  above  and  below  by  strong 
traverse  pieces.  Across  this  are  placed  two  well-polished  iron 
spindles,  having  a small  groove  through  their  whole  length,  and 
by  means  of  treadles,  are  put  in  opposite  motions.  The  workman 
sits  behind  the  frame,  with  a thin  board  before  him  on  which  is 
placed  the  cotton,  thinly  spread,  which  the  rollers  receive.  The 
lint  goes  through  the  rollers,  and  the  seed  falls  down  in  a separate 
pile.  The  French  population  have  much  improved  upon  this  plan, 
by  a large  wheel  which  turns  two  of  these  mills  with  so  much 
velocity  that  70  pounds  of  clean  cotton  can  be  made  every  day.” 
A Mr.  Krebs,  who  lived  on  the  Pascagoula  river,  not  very  far 


^ History  of  Alabama. 
- History  of  Florida. 


135 


136 


ALABAMA 


from  the  French  settlements,  owned  one  of  these  improved 
machines  and  claimed  to  be  its  inventor.  It  was  perhaps  the  best 
contrivance  for  cleaning  cotton  then  in  use,  bnt  the  method  of 
packing  it  for  market  was  extremely  primitive.  i\Ir.  Krebs 
resorted  to  suspending  a canvas  bag  between  pine  trees  and 
treading  down  the  cotton  until  the  bag  contained  “almost  300 
weight.” 

Beginning  with  1800  emigrants  poured  into  the  country  which 
had  been  ceded  by  Georgia  (1798)  to  the  government.  Many 
went  from  North  Carolina  to  Knoxville ; there  flatboats  were  con- 
structed and  floated  down  the  Tennessee  river  to  INIuscle  Shoals, 
“where  they  disembarked,”  says  Pickett,  “at  the  house  of  Double 
Head,  a Cherokee  Chief.  Placing  their  effects  upon  the  horses, 
which  they  had  brought  down  by  land  from  Knoxville,  they 
departed  on  foot  for  the  ‘Bigbee  Settlement’  about  St.  Stephens. 
After  a fatiguing  march  they  reached  the  residence  of  Levi  Col- 
bert, a celebrated  Chickasaw  chief,  who  gave  them  the  necessary 
directions.  Pursuing  their  journey,  they  came  upon  the  Tombig- 
bee,  at  the  cotton  gin  which  had  not  long  been  erected  by  the 
Federal  Government  to  encourage  the  Chickasaws  in  the 
cultivation  of  the  great  staple.” 

About  the  same  time  (1802)  two  brothers  from  New  England 
who  went  to  the  Boat  Yard  on  Lake  Tensas  “pursued  the  business 
of  weaving — a profitable  employment  in  those  days.”  They  estab- 
lished a cotton  g'in  at  the  Boat  Yard,  the  first  in  that  part  of  the 
country,  now  Baldwin  county.  Six  months  prior  to  this  (April, 
1802)  Abram  Mordecia,  a Jewish  Indian  trader,  procuring  the 
consent  of  the  Creek  Chiefs,  had  established  a cotton  gin  at 
Weatherford’s  race  track  on  the  eastern  bluff  below  the  junction 
of  the  Coosa  and  Tallapoosa.  It  was  built  by  Lyons  and  Barnett, 
of  Georgia,  who  brought  their  tools,  gin  saws  and  other  materials, 
from  that  State  on  pack-horses.  The  same  enterprising  mechanics 
also  built  a gin  for  the  Pierces,  and  another  at  McIntosh  Bluff 
upon  the  Tombigbee  (in  Washington  county). 

The  Indians  cultivated  cotton  at  this  time,  and  Abram 
Mordecai  bought  it  from  them,  ginned  it,  and  carried  it  to 
Augusta,  Ga.,  on  pack-horses,  “in  bags  much  smaller  than  those 
of  the  present  day.”  Mordecai’s  gin  was  afterwards  burned  by 


KING  COTTON 


137 


the  Chief  of  the  Coosawclas  and  “a  pretty  squaw  was  the  cause  of 
the  destruction  of  the  first  cotton  gin  in  Alabama.’’ 

In  1809  there  were  some  extensive  and  wealthy  settlements 
about  Ft.  Stoddard,  and  the  large  islands  formed  by  the  Mobile 
and  Tensas  rivers  “yielded  large  crops  of  cotton.’’^ 

During  the  decade,  1800-1810,  Alabama  was  so  sparsely  settled 
that  cotton  production  was  necessarily  small.  The  records  show 
that  in  1807  only  about  500  bales  were  produced.  The  following 
year  the  production  increased  to  1,000  and  in  1809  to  1,500  bales. 
The  next  decade,  1810-1820,  the  country  was  rapidly  settled, 
particularly  after  the  treaty  of  peace  with  the  Creek  Indians  in 
181-1,  and  by  the  end  of  the  decade  the  population  numbered  about 
128,000.  Meanwhile  the  cotton  crops  increased  from  2,000  to 
68,500  bales.  It  was  during  this  decade  that  its  culture  was 
introduced  in  Madison  county  (18C6)  and  upon  the  rich  bottom 
•lands  of  the  Tennessee  river.  In  1817  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson 
owned  a large  plantation  oir  the  Tennessee,  in  Lawrence  county, 
which  was  cultivated  in  corn  and  cotton  by  about  60  slaves. - 

During  the  decade,  1820-1830,  the  production  increased  from 

75.000  to  163,000  bales.  The  increase  in  the  three  succeeding 
decades  was  as  follows : 1830-1840,  from  187,000  to  391,000 ; 
1840-1850,  from  301,000  to  596,000;  1850-1860,  from  575,000  to 

990.000  bales,  the  latter  being  the  largest  crop  produced  prior  to 
the  Civil  War.  In  the  decade,  1840-1850,  Alabama  was  the  largest 
cotton  producing  state  in  the  Union. 

The  first  crop  produced  after  the  Civil  War  (1866)  was 

296.000  bales,  which  was  larger  than  that  of  any  other  State  ex- 
cept Mississippi.  This  was  almost  exactly  the  quantity  produced 
in  1838.  It  required  twenty-four  years  for  the  State  to  make  as 
large  a crop  as  that  of  1859. 

The  increase  in  production  during  the  decades  from  1870  to 
1900  was  as  follows:  1870-1880,  from  645,000  to  700,000  bales; 
1880-1890,  from  842,000  to  915,000;  1890-1900,  from  1,011,000 
to  1,176,000  bales.  The  largest  produced  crop  in  the  history  of 
the  State  was  1,462,000  bales  in  1904. 

The  Census  of  1879  showed  an  area  planted  in  cotton  amount- 


^ History  of  Louisiana;  Stoddard. 

- Letters  from  Alabama;  Anne  Royall,  1830. 


138 


ALABAMA 


ing  to  2,330,000  acres,  and  the  Department  of  Agriculture 

3.733.000  in  1906,  which  is  an  increase  of  1,403,000  acres  or  60 
per  cent,  since  1879.  The  production  according  to  the  Census, 
was  700,000  bales  in  1879',  and  1,253,000  in  1906,  an  increase  of 

553.000  bales,  or  79  per  cent,  since  1879,  the  increase  in  produc- 
tion being  19  per  cent,  greater  than  the  increase  in  area. 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  Alabama,  1807-1819 


Year 

Total  Crop 

1807-08 

500 

1808-09 

1,000 

1809-10 

1,500 

1810-11 

2,000 

1811-12 

5,000 

1812-1.3 

7,000 

1813-14 

10,000 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1814-15 

15,120 

1815-16 

38,422 

1816-17 

40,000 

1817-18 

41,233 

1818-19 

56,929 

1819-20 

68.500 

1809. — In  regard  to  the  country  on  the  Mobile  river,  which 
was  at  this  time  a part  of  West  Florida,  Stoddard  says:  “The 
IMobile  affords  a boat  navigation  of  350  miles;  and  coasting 
vessels  may  ascend  above  the  line  of  demarcation,  to  Ft.  Stoddard, 
about  which  we  have  some  extensive  and  wealthy  settlements. 
Just  below  this  line,  the  river  is  separated  into  two  or  three 
channels,  forming  in  its  progress  several  large  islands,  one  of 
which  is  about  30  miles  long,  and  8 miles  broad,  yielding  large 
crops  of  cotton.” 

1814. — A great  influx  of  population  and  clearing  up  of  lands 
for  cotton  planting,  followed  the  treaty  of  peace  with  the  Creek 
Indians  made  at  Fort  Jackson,  August  9. 

1817. — ^On  March  1,  of  this  year  Alabama  Territory  was 
organized,  its  lands  being  taken  from  the  eastern  portion  of  the 
Mississippi  Territory. 

As  illustrating  the  rapid  occupation  of  new  cotton  lands  at  this 
time,  a traveler  who  had  occasion  to  go  from  Nashville  to 
Savannah  in  January,  declared  that  on  the  way  he  fell  in  with 
crowds  of  emigrants  from  Carolina  and  Georgia  all  bound  for 
the  cotton  lands  of  Alabama ; that  their  place  of  meeting  was 
Burnt  Corn,  Monroe  county ; that  he  counted  the  flocks  and 
wagons,  carts,  sleighs,  gigs,  coaches,  and  that  all  told,  there  were 
two  hundred  and  seven  conveyances,  twenty-nine  herds  of  cattle, 
twenty-seven  droves  of  hogs,  and  more  than  3,800  people. 


KING  COTTON 


139 


The  cotton  receipts  at  Mobile  for  several  years  were  as 
follows  : 1817,  7,000  bales ; 1818,  10,000  bales ; 1819,  16,000  bales ; 
1820,  25,390  bales ; 1821,  44,000  bales ; 1822,  45,000  bales ; 1823, 
43,732  bales. 

1818.  — The  Government  realized  this  year  more  than 
$3,000,000  from  the  sale  of  lands  at  public  auction.  At  the 
Huntsville  sale  a planter  bought  a quarter-section  of  cotton  land 
for  which  he  paid  $127  an  acre. 

Three  steamboats  were  built  for  the  river  trade,  one  to  ply 
between  Blakely  and  New  Orleans  and  two  for  the  up-river  trade 
north  of  Blakely. 

Extraordinary  prices  were  paid  for  Alabama  cotton,  some 
grades  fetching  34  cents. 

Anne  Royall  visited  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson’s  cotton  plantation 
on  the  Tennessee  river,  in  Lawrence  county.  It  was  worked  by 
60  slaves.  The  land  was  so  productive  that  large  quantities  of 
cotton  were  burned  in  the  fields  for  want  of  hands  to  get  it  out 
of  the  way  of  the  plow.  The  plants  measured  6J^  feet  high.  An 
expert  hand  picked  about  100  pounds  per  day.  A saw  gin,  and 
the  old  style  wood  screw  press  were  used. 

1819.  — Alabama  was  admitted  into  the  Union  December  14th. 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  Alabama,  1820-1829 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1820-21 

75,000 

91,942 

70,240 

94,261 

114,921 

1825-26 

160,454 

144,231 

118,619 

132,808 

163,321 

1821-22 

1826-27 

1822-23  . . . 

1827-28.  . 

1823-24 

1828-29 

1824-25 

1829-30 

1821. — The  usual  toll  for  ginning  at  this  time  was  one-twelfth 
of  the  cotton. 

J.  R.  Bedford,  a Florence  correspondent  of  the  American 
Farmer,  described  “a  valuable  improvement  as  an  appendage  to 
cotton  gins,  which  operated  as  a screen  and  fan,  separating  trash 
and  dirt  from  the  cotton,  as  a wheat  fan  separates  the  chaff  from 
the  wheat.”  It  had  recently  been  brought  into  use,  he  said,  in  the 
the  vicinity  of  Natchez,  and  with  the  use  of  Carver’s  gin  the 
cotton  in  that  neighborhood  had  acquired  a reputation  as  superior 


140 


ALABAMA 


to  that  of  Louisiana.  Ten  years  before  its  introduction,  the 
Natchez  cotton  was  esteemed  no  better  than  Georgia  upland  or 
than  good  Tennessee,  and  2 cents  inferior  to  Red  river  cotton, 
but  during  the  last  season  it  commanded  2 to  4 cents  more  than 
Red  river,  and  3 to  6 and  7 cents  more  than  Alabama  and 
Tennessee  cotton. 

An  item  in  the  Huntsville  Republican  stated  that  “the  Big- 
Bend  of  the  Tennessee  river  produced  about  30,000  bales  of 
cotton,  and  it  was  understood  that  more  than  usual  would  be 
packed  in  Scotch  bagging,  instead  of  Kentucky,  which  was 
growing  into  disrepute  among  the  planters. 

In  canvassing  the  county,  the  Tax  Assessor  of  Madison 
county  ascertained  that  there  were  149  cotton  gins  in  operation 
at  which  20,088  bales  were  ginned  and  pressed,  averaging  300 
pounds  each. 

1822. — As  much  as  a bale  of  cotton  to  the  acre  was  produced 
on  the  best  lands  in  the  Tennessee  Valley  counties. 

Limestone  county  produced  6,000  bales  of  cotton  of  350 
pounds  each,  on  11,385  acres.  There  were  1,394  spinning  wheels 
and  469  looms  that  made  11,445  yards  of  cloth. 

1824.  — For  the  first  time  the  cotton  crop  exceeded  100,000 
bales. 

A statement  appeared  in  the  Huntsville  Democrat  (April  20) 
that  letters  patent  had  been  granted  to  George  D.  Diggs  “for  the 
application  of  the  oil  of  cotton  seed  to  all  the  purposes  for  which 
linseed  oil  was  used,  giving  him  the  exclusive  right  and  liberty 
of  making,  constructing,  using  and  vending  to  others  to  be  used, 
the  said  improvement.” 

1825.  — It  was  estimated  that  80,000  bales  of  the  crop  of  this 
year  would  be  shipped  from  Mobile  Bay. 

The  crop  of  North  Alabama  and  Tennessee  for  this  year  was 
estimated  at  80,000  bales. 

Greater  damage  than  ever  known  was  done  by  an  invasion  of 
the  caterpillar.  A correspondent  in  Conecuh  county  placed  the 
loss  at  90  per  cent,  of  the  crop  in  that  part  of  the  State. 

1826.  — The  export  of  cotton  from  the  State  this  season  was 
estimated  at  125,000  bales,  of  which  the  northern  portion  pro- 
duced 50,000  and  the  southern,  75,000  bales. 


KING  COTTON 


141 


1827.  — On  account  of  drought,  thi.s  was  said  to  have  been  the 
most  disastrous  season  to  crops  since  the  settlement  of  the  State. 
The  yield  was  estimated  at  only  about  one-half  of  an  ordinary 
crop. 

Rot  for  the  first  time  made  its  appearance  in  the  cotton  fields 
of  North  Alabama. 

The  abnormally  high  price  of  hemp  bagging  and  rope  stimu- 
lated planters  to  encourage  the  manufacture  and  use  of  cotton 
bagging  and  rope.  Some  of  the  planters  living  at  Huntsville 
ordered  from  a manufacturer  at  Nashville  25,000  yards,  and  the 
planters  of  Adams  county,  iMiss.,  ordered  20,000  yards,  at  23 
cents  per  yard. 

A correspondent  of  the  American  Farmer  advocating  the 
encouragement  of  manufactures  in  the  South  said : “It  is  computed 
that  North  Alabama  consumes  300,000  yards  of  cotton  bagging 
annually,  at  an  average  expense  of  $100,000,  which  large  amount 
is  principally  paid  to  the  Kentucky  manufacturer  in  money.” 

1828.  — In  the  light  of  the  subsequent  history  of  the  cotton 
industry,  this  was  the  rather  curious  advice  offered  planters  by 
the  editor  of  the  Huntsville  Advocate : “The  supposed  consump- 
tion of  the  whole  of  Europe  and  the  United  States  is  estimated 
at  1,250,000  bales.  Take  then  the  crop  of  the  United  States  for 
the  year  1826-27 — it  was  957,281  bales — and  let  it  increase  in 
the  same  ratio  for  three  succeeding  years — from  569,240  bales  in 
1824-25  to  957,281  in  1826-27,  and  it  will  be  more  than  sufficient 
to  supply  the  whole  demand  of  the  consumers,  without  taking 
into  consideration  the  large  quantities  raised  in  South  America, 
the  West  Indies  and  other  places.  It  is  vain  to  answer  this  by 
saying  that  the  consumption  of  cotton  goods  will  increase  in 
proportion  to  the  growth  of  the  raw  material ; experience  has 
proved  the  contrary.”  The  editor  therefore  urged  the  planters  to 
“raise  more  of  the  necessities  of  life,  etc.” 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  Alabama,  1830-1839 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

is.3n-31 

187,164 

18.3.5-36 

275,522 

l,S.31-.32 

191,760 

1836-37 

278,813 

1832-3.3 

201.98.5 

18.37-38 

.361,782 

1833-34 

211  408 

1838-39 

296  011 

1834-35 

237.690 

1839-40 

391 ,495 

142 


ALABAMA 


1831.  — The  cotton  worm  damaged  the  crops  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  State. 

The  construction  of  the  first  railroad  in  the  State,  and  the 
third  in  the  Southern  States,  between  Decatur  and  Tuscumbia,  a 
distance  of  46  miles,  was  begun  this  year.  The  object  of  this 
road  was  to  afford  transportation  around  the  Muscle  Shoals  then 
obstructing  the  navigation  of  the  Tennessee  river.  At  first,  the 
track  was  laid  with  wooden  rails,  and  tram  cars  pulled  by  mules 
were  used  to  transport  cotton  and  other  freight.  The  road  was 
not  completed  until  1837.  Afterwards  it  became  a part  of  the 
INIemphis  & Charleston  Railroad. 

.\t  this  time  there  was  a canal  in  operation  connecting  Hunts- 
ville with  the  Tennessee  river. 

1832.  — The  crop  for  the  first  time  exceeded  200,000  bales. 

The  Bell  factory,  located  on  Flint  river,  12  miles  north  of 

Huntsville,  was  built  this  year.  It  was  the  first  cotton  mill 
constructed  in  the  State.  The  buildings  are  at  present  in  a good 
state  of  preservation,  but  the  mill  has  been  idle  for  some 
years. 

1833.  — Great  sales  of  public  lands  were  begun  this  year.  The 
number  of  acres  sold  in  the  State  for  several  years  was  as 
follows:  1833,  451,319';  1834,  1,072,457;  1835,  1,587,007;  1836, 
1,901,409 ; 1837,  381,773 ; the  total  for  the  five  years  being 
5,393,965  acres. 

About  this  time  a cotton-seed-oil  mill  was  in  operation  in 
IMobile. 

Daniel  Pratt  began  building'  gins  on  Autauga  Creek,  four 
miles  west  of  Washington  landing,  and  13  miles  west  of  Mont- 
gomery. From  1833  to  1846  he  had  manufactured  a little  over 
5,000  gin  stands.  He  sold  them  in  Alabama,  Tennessee, 
IMississippi,  Louisiana,  Arkansas  and  Texas  and  some  in  Mexico, 
at  from  $3  to  $4  per  saw,  according  to  the  quality  of  each  stand. 

1835. — The  following  was  the  range  of  prices  for  cotton  in 
IMobile  for  each  year  named : 1835-6,  14%  to  16%  cents ; 

1836-7,  lO  % to  16  cents  ; 1837-8,  7%  to  12%  cents ; 1838-9, 12% 
to  15%  cents ; 1839-40,  8%  to  8%  cents ; 1840-1,  8%  to  11% 
cents ; 1841-2,  7%  to  10  cents ; 1842-3,  5%  to  8 cents. 

Extensive  speculations  in  the  sales  of  cotton  lands. 


KING  COTTON 


143 


In  May  of  this  year  middling  upland  cotton  at  Mobile  was 
quoted  as  high  as  20  cents  per  pound. 

1836.  — The  cotton  worm  was  particularly  destructive  in 
Greene  county  this  year. 

1837.  — At  this  period  a steamboat  named  the  “Ben  Sherrod” 
was  plying  between  Florence  and  New  Orleans,  its  chief  cargo 
to  New  Orleans  consisting  of  cotton. 

The  crop  for  the  first  time  exceeded  300,000  bales. 

1838.  — The  cotton  crop  of  North  Alabama  was  estimated  at 

80.000  bales,  and  that  of  South  Alabama  at  250,000  bales, 
averaging  450  pounds  each. 

The  Tuscaloosa  Manufacturing  Co.,  owned  a cotton  mill  at 
Scottsville  in  Bibb  County,  the  capacity  of  which  was  increased 
from  500  to  700  spindles.  It  employed  20  hands,  and  one  of  the 
principal  owners  was  D.  Scott. 

The  crop  was  seriously  injured  by  drought  and  the  cotton 
worm. 

An  improved  variety  of  cotton  discovered  at  this  time  was 
described  as  growing  much  taller  than  the  common  plant,  having 
a number  of  short  lateral  branches,  only  4 or  5 inches  in  length 
and  bearing  twin  pods  or  clusters  of  6 to  7 pods  on  each  branch. 
It  was  said  to  be  finer  than  other  short  staples,  commanded  4 or 
5 cents  more,  and  was  more  prolific.  The  plant  was  said  to 
resemble  okra,  and  in  rich  land  grew  to  a height  of  8 or  9 
feet. 

A canal  was  constructed  ■ along  the  Muscle  Shoals  of  the 
Tennessee  river,  and  opened  this  year.  The  following  year  from 

30.000  to  40,000  bales  of  cotton  passed  through  it  on  the  way  to 
New  Orleans. 

1839.  — It  cost  the  planter  $12.15  to  market  a 420-pound  bale 
of  cotton  at  Mobile  this  year,  and  this  did  not  include  insurance. 
It  cost  $6.00  additional  to  land  the  cotton  at  Liverpool,  making 
the  total  cost  on  both  sides  $18.15. 

According  to  the  Census  there  were  14  cotton  mills  in  the 
State  operating  1,502  spindles. 

During  the  decade  1830-1840  the  smallest  receipts  at  Mobile 
were  17,216  bales  in  1831,  and  the  largest  76,458  bales  in 
1834.  . 


144 


ALABAMA 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Alabama,  1840-1849 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1840-41 • 

Bales 

301,137 

290,462 

407,576 

.3.39,806 

443,657 

363,451 

283,401 

406,141 

596.000 

564,429 

Bales 

1841-42 

1842-43 

1843-44 

1844-45 

1845-46 

do 

1846-47 

1847-48 

5.000 

7.000 
5,208 

1848-49 

1849-50 

12 

16,960 

1840. — Dr.  N.  B.  Cloud,  of  Montgomery  county,  witnessing 
the  injury  to  the  cotton  lands  as  a result  of  the  common  methods 
of  culture,  began  a series  of  experiments  in  the  preparation  and 
artificial  fertilization  of  the  soil.  In  1842,  he  grew  upon  a single 
acre  of  poor  sandy  pine  land,  nearly  6,000  pounds  of  seed  cotton. 
Barnyard  manure  was  used  and  the  plants  set  3 feet  apart  each 
way. 

There  were  said  to  be  over  300  steamboat  landings  on  the 
rivers  emptying  into  Mobile  Bay  from  which  cotton  was  shipped 
to  the  Mobile  market. 

Forty-six  miles  of  railway  were  in  operation  in  the  State  this 
year. 

1842.  — In  the  month  of  March  middling  upland  cotton  was 
c|uoted  at  4%  cents  per  pound  in  Mobile. 

Eugene  McCaa,  of  Linden,  Marengo  county,  in  a letter  to  the 
Department  of  Agriculture,  said:  “My  father  made  17  bales  of 
cotton,  which  was  shipped  to  Mobile  and  sold  by  Reeves,  Battle 
& Co.,  for  3^  cents  per ‘pound.  Freight  $1.00,  warehouse 
charges  25  cents,  wharfage,  storage  and  everything  in  Mobile, 
25  cents  per  bale.  Commissions  for  selling,  21/2  per  cent.” 

The  crop  for  the  first  time  exceeded  400,000  bales. 

1843.  — The  first  bale  of  new  cotton  was  received  at  Mont- 
gomery August  16th  and  sold  for  8^  cents  a pound. 

Long  continued  rains  and  boll-worms  damaged  the  crop. 

From  1833  to  1843,  inclusive,  there  were  6,163,465  acres  of 
government  lands  sold  in  Alabama.  During  the  same  period  the 
cotton  crop  of  the  State  increased  nearly  100  per  cent. 


AN  OLD  TIME  GIN  HOUSE  AND  SCREW  I’RESS. 
Courtesy  of  W.  L.  l.)unn,  I’inelops,  N.  C. 


KING  COTTON 


145 


The  following  was  the  range  of  prices  for  cotton  at  Mobile 
for  each  year  named : — 1843-4,  6^  to  8%  cents ; 1844-5  4%  to 
6^  cents ; 1845-6,  6^  to  8%  cents ; 1846-7,  9 to  11%  cents ; 
1847-8,  5%  to  7%  cents;  1848-9,  5 to  7 cents;  1849-50,  10  to  12 
cents ; 1850-1,  8%  to  12  cents. 

1844. — An  extensive  cotton  milt  was  erected  at  the  Tallapoosa 
Falls  near  Tallassee. 

The  cotton  crop  was  badly  damaged  by  drought.  A drought 
in  1845  also  cut  off  the  yield. 

In  Monroe,  Greene  and  Clarke  counties  the  caterpillar  was 
very  destructive. 

The  Southern  Advocate,  printed  at  Huntsville,  said  of  the 
weather  conditions  and  its  effect  on  the  crop  in  North  Alabama: 
“The  weather  for  some  time  past  has  Ireen  alternately  very  hot 
and  cool,  and  remarkably  dry.  Much  injury  was  done  to  the  crop 
by  worms  and  the  dry  weather,  the  loss  being  put  at  one-third.” 
In  the  southern  part  of  the  State  the  caterpillar  did  considerable 
damage. 

Nearly  400  bales  of  new  cotton  were  received  at  Demopolis, 
IMarengo  county,  by  August  31st. 

The  IMiig,  published  at  Eutaw,  Greene  county,  noted  that 
good  cotton  pickers  in  that  neighborhood  were  gathering  300 
pounds  each  per  day. 

A Cotton  Planters’  Convention  was  held  at  Montgomery,  in 
April,  the  object  of  which  was  “to  consummate  an  arrangement 
with  the  planters  of  the  Southern  States,  which  will  diminish  the 
cultivation  of  cotton,  and  consequently  improve  the  price.” 

Five  cotton  factories  were  in  operation  in  the  State ; one  in 
Lauderdale  county,  one  in  iMorgan,  and  one  in  Madison.  There 
were  two  others,  one  at  Scottsville,  Bibb  county,  and  one  at 
Tallapoosa  Falls,  near  Tallassee. 

In  answer  to  a circular  sent  out  this  year  by  the  Treasury 
Department  asking  as  to  the  manufacturing,  commercial  and 
agricultural  interests  of  the  States,  one  of  the  returns  was  from 
a cotton  factory  located  in  Tallapoosa  county  and  owned  by 
Barrett  & Marks,  established  in  1845.  Its  capital  was  $30,000, 
upon  which  was  earned  a profit  of  15  per  cent.  It  employed  30 
hands,  one-half  of  them  being  their  own  slaves. 


in 


146 


ALABAMA 


During  the  cotton  season  ended  August  31,  Mobile  exported 
521,996  bales  of  cotton,  a part  of  which  was  received  from  the 
State  of  Mississippi. 

In  January  of  this  year  middling  upland  cotton  was  quoted  in 
Mobile  as  low  as  3^  cents  per  pound. 

1846.  — The  cotton  crops  in  the  black  belt  region  of  the  State, 
particularly  in  the  counties  of  Dallas,  Lowndes,  Perry  and 
Autauga,  were  greatly  injured  in  August  and  September  by  heavy 
and  continued  rains. 

The  caterpillar  caused  more  damage  than  at  any  previous 
time.  A Barbour  county  correspondent  stated  that  after  destroy- 
ing the  leaves  they  ate  off  the  bark  of  the  plant. 

1847.  — ^A  great  flood  in  December  destroyed  much  of  the  crop 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  State.  Continued  rains  in  the 
summer  and  the  boll-worm  also  damaged  the  crop,  particularly 
in  the  cane-brake  counties  where  they  were  very  destructive. 

A Mobile  cotton  commission  merchant,  writing  to  a corre- 
spondent of  the  advantages  of  rope  over  iron  ties,  said;  “A  few 
years  ago,  a lot  of  cotton  came  to  this  port  with  iron  hoops,  but 
it  was  pronounced  unmerchantable,  because  in  compressing  the 
hoops  had  to  be  taken  off  and  ropes  substituted.  The  planter  dis- 
continued the  use  of  hoops,  and  no  bales  have  since  been  received 
here  put  up  with  them.  All  cotton  is  pronounced  unmerchantable 
that  is  wrapped  with  other  than  good  grass  or  hemp  ropes.”  He 
quoted  the  price  of  iron  hoops  at  7 cents  per  pound,  riveted  to 
suit,  say,  2-pound  iron  rivets,  75  cents  per  1,000.  He  added: 
“We  think  the  use  of  iron  hoops  instead  of  ropes  is  not  viewed  in 
a favorable  light  by  dealers  and  shippers  of  cotton.” 

1848.  — In  May  middling  upland  cotton  was  quoted  in  Mobile 
at  4 cents  per  pound,  and  in  November  at  4J4  cents. 

The  crop  for  the  first  time  exceeded  a half  million  bales. 

Heavy  rains  in  July  and  August,  and  the  appearance  of  the 
boll-worm  damaged  the  crop  considerably  in  the  central  portion 
of  the  State. 

The  Petit  Gulf  and  green  seed  wmre  the  varieties  commonly 
used. 

The  freight  rate  on  cotton  on  the  Montgomery  & West 
Point  Railroad  (67  miles)  was  9'5  cents  per  bale  of  500  pounds. 


KING  COTTON 


147 


1849. — A cotton  planter  adopted  this  plan  to  encourage  cotton 
picking:  He  offered  premiums  to  his  pickers  every  season,  such 
as  tobacco,  handkerchiefs,  molasses,  calico  dresses,  etc.,  and  he 
found  that  the  extra  work  paid  him  large  profits  on  the  cost  of 
the  premiums.  Before  adopting  the  plan,  no  hand  on  his  planta- 
tion would  pick  more  than  200  pounds  a day,  even  in  a race. 
After  adopting  it,  some  of  them  for  three  consecutive  weeks 
averaged  350  pounds  a day. 

J.  H.  Dent,  of  Barbour  county,  reported  a series  of  disasters 
to  the  crop,  the  late  frost  in  April  killing  the  first  planting, 
excessive  rains  in  May,  June  and  July  and  a sudden  and  severe 
drought  in  August. 

Two  new  varieties  of  seed  were  introduced,  the  Banana  and 
Sugar-loaf.  The  first  yielded  (on  a small  scale)  3,000  pounds  to 
the  acre,  and  the  latter  from  extensive  planting,  1,200  pounds 
(seed)  per  acre,  an  average  of  400  pounds  more  than  the  Petit 
Gulf.  The  latter  variety  was  regarded  in  Montgomery  county  as 
the  best. 

The  average  yield  per  acre  in  Coosa  county,  as  reported  by 
Samuel  S.  Graham,  was  150  pounds  of  lint  to  the  acre. 

The  Census  returns  show  that  Alabam.a  outranked  all  other 
States  in  cotton  production. 


CoM.MERCiAL  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Alabama,  1850-1859 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles. 

1850-51 

Bales 

575,080 

Bales 

4,000 

10 

12, .580 

1851-52 

659,668 

5,000 

No  data 

No  data 

1852-53 

695,434 

5,000 

do 

do 

1853-54 

692,934 

6,220 

do 

do 

1854-55 

590.321 

5,704 

do 

do 

1855-56 

775,939 

5,806 

do 

do 

1856-57 

67F.222 

6,.506 

do 

do 

1857-58 

698,621 

7.8;i9 

do 

do 

1858—59 

738.538 

10.187 

do 

do 

1859-60 

989,955 

11,406 

14 

35,740 

1850. — According  to  De  Bow’s  Review,  the  cost  and  charges 
to  the  planter  of  the  Tennessee  Valley  for  shipping  and  marketing 
his  cotton,  were  as  follows  for  a bale  weighing  500  pounds  and 
valued  at  $50: — From  Whitesburg  (the  shipping  port  for  Hunts- 


148 


ALABAMA 


ville)  to  Charleston,  $6.38;  from  VVhitesburg  to  New  Orleans, 
$5.00. 

John  ]\I.  Swope,  of  Lawrence  county,  estimated  the  average 
yield  in  his  county  at  180  pounds  of  lint  per  acre ; and  cost  of  pro- 
duction 6 cents,  when  the  same  hands  cultivate  the  usual  quantity 
of  land  in  corn,  say  acres. 

J.  A.  Brown,  of  Talladega  county,  stated  that  cotton  seed 
had  been  found  to  be  of  great  value  as  a fertilizer  either  for 
wheat,  oats  or  corn. 

The  sub-soil  plow  was  introduced  into  Lawrence  county. 

There  were  183  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this  year. 

1851.  — ^John  H.  Dent,  of  Barbour  county,  gave  the  average 
yield  of  cotton  in  his  county  at  500  pounds  to  the  acre.  “It 
is  allowed,”  he  says,  “that  it  takes  1,600  pounds  in  the  seed  to 
make  a bale  of  450  pounds  of  clean  cotton.” 

For  the  first  time  the  crop  exceeded  600,000  bales. 

There  were  at  Mobile  42  fire-proof  brick  warehouses,  cover- 
ing 40  acres  of  ground  and  capable  of  storing  310,000  bales  of 
cotton,  and  ten  Tyler  and  2 Duval  compresses  with  a capacity 
of  7,000  bales  a day,  or  168,000  per  month. 

1852.  — During  this  year  an  Association  was  organized  in 
Marengo  county,  one  of  the  purposes  of  which  was  to  collect 
statistics  of  the  cotton  crop.  It  was  believed,  the  Association 
said,  “that  much  of  the  sudden  derangement  of  the  price  of  cotton 
was  attributable  to  the  tardiness  with  which  the  amount  of  the 
American  crop  was  ascertained,  and  hence  during  the  early  and 
middle  parts  of  the  season,  it  was  in  the  power  of  all  parties 
interested  to  magnify  or  diminish  the  estimate  as  best  suited 
their  interests  for  purchasing  from  the  planter  or  selling  stocks 
on  hand.  Hence  the  Association  would  organize  to  report  at  its 
meetings : — the  rate  of  consumption ; the  stocks  of  cotton  in  this 
and  foreign  countries ; the  actual  amount  of  cotton  planted  and 
gathered  in  each  of  the  beats  of  the  county,  and  that  of  the  pre- 
ceding year.  In  the  absence  of  any  organized  plan  by  which  the 
crop  can  be  known  until  the  end  of  the  commercial  year  planters 
are  kept  in  suspense,  as  to  the  amount  of  the  crop,  the  relation 
of  supply  and  demand,  and  the  uncertainty  of  higher  or  lower 
prices.  Finally  in  the  state  of  confusion,  they  look  to  the  news- 


KING  COTTON 


149 


paper  statements  and  without  aii}^  calculation  or  data  whatever, 
based  on  facts,  order  their  crops  to  be  sold.” 

1854.  — The  \\Tstern  Railway  of  Alabama  from  Selma  to 
West  Point,  Ga.  (138  miles),  was  chartered  in  1834,  and 
opened  from  INIontgomery  to  West  Point  in  1854.  The  line  from 
Montgomery  to  Selma  was  opened  in  1870. 

J.  H.  Forman,  of  Chambers  county,  estimated  the  average  yield 
in  his  county  at  175  pounds  of  lint  to  the  acre. 

1855.  — T.  T.  Pratt,  of  Cherokee  county,  estimated  the  aver- 
age yield  of  cotton  in  his  county  at  600  to  800  pounds  of  seed, 
or  ‘250  to  400  pounds  of  lint.  He  put  the  cost  of  cultivation, 
preparing  it  for  market,  and  transportation  to  Rome,  Ga.,  at  8 
cents  per  pound.  The  freight  by  water  from  Centre  to  Rome 
was  15  to  20  cents  per  100  pounds,  and  the  price  at  Rome  7 to 
8 cents  per  pound. 

The  crop  for  the  first  time  exceeded  700,000  bales. 

An  Alabama  cotton  planter  invented  and  obtained  a patent 
for  a “cotton  leaf  and  boll  picker.” 

1856.  — The  JMarion  & Catawba  Railroad  (now  the  Southern 
Ry.),  from  Elizabeth  to  Akron  (61  miles),  was  chartered  in 
1851  and  opened  this  year. 

George  G.  Henry,  of  Mobile,  invented  a machine  for  spinning 
cotton  on  the  plantation,  the  machine  to  be  attached  to  the  gin. 
De  Bow’s  Review  referred  to  it  as  a machine  “for  the  manufac- 
ture of  seed  cotton  into  improved  yarns.”  A similar  machine 
called  the  “Clement  Attachment,”  attracted  some  attention  about 
the  year  1880. 

1858.  — The  Selma,  Rome  & Dalton  Railroad,  now  the 
Southern  Railway,  from  Selma  to  Dalton,  Georgia  (237  miles), 
began  building  in  November,  1850,  By  1855  the  road  was 
opened  to  Montevallo  (77  miles)  and  by  1858  to  Blue  Mountain 
(136  miles),  and  completed  to  Rome,  Ga.,  this  year. 

1859.  — The  first  cotton-picking  machine  with  a brush  attach- 
ment was  patented  by  Louis  Bishop,  of  Talladega. 

The  Mobile  & Ohio  Railroad,  from  Mobile  to  Columbus, 
Kentucky  (472  miles),  was  chartered  in  Alabama,  February  8, 
1848.  It  took  ten  years  to  complete  the  entire  line,  which  was 
officially  opened  in  September,  1859.  The  branch  from  Mont- 
gomery to  Columbus,  Miss.,  167  miles,  was  completed  in  1900. 


150 


ALABAMA 


Dallas  county  showed  the  highest  total  production,  63,410 
bales,  followed  by  Marengo  county  with  62,428  bales,  of  400 
pounds  each. 

The  crop  exceeded  900,000  bales,  placing  Alabama  in  the  lead 
as  a cotton-producing  State. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Alabama,  1860-1869 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1860-61, 

Bales 

707.400 

Bales 

12,970 

1861-62' 

1862-63 

1863-64 

1864-65 

1865-66 

1866-67 

296,105 

386.295 

5.555 

6,262 

1867-68 

1868-69 

293.113 

6,060 

7,385 

1869-70 

429,482 

13 

28,046 

1860.  — There  were  743  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this  year. 

The  Mobile  & Montgomery  Railroad,  now  the  Louisville  & 

Nashville,  from  Montgomery  to  Tensas  (163i/o  miles),  was  com- 
pleted and  in  operation  in  1861 ; March  5,  1872,  the  line  was 
extended  to  deep  water  in  Mobile  harbor. 

1861.  — The  Confederate  Congress  passed  “an  act  to  prohibit 
the  exportation  of  cotton  from  the  Confederate  States,  except 
through  the  seaports  of  said  States,  and  to  punish  persons 
offending  therein.” 

1862.  — A Montgomery  newspaper  contained  this  item:  “We 
have  understood  that  an  agent  of  the  French  government  is  in 
the  city,  authorized  to  purchase  an  indefinite  amount  of  cotton. 
The  designs  are  evidently  thus : the  agent  is  to  purchase  a large 
amount  of  cotton,  and  then  in  case  of  a threatened  Yankee  occu- 
pation of  the  city,  he  would  hoist  the  French  flag  over  it  to 
prevent  it  from  being  destroyed  by  our  authorities.” 

1863.  — The  Alabama  Central  Railroad,  now  the  Southern 
Railway,  from  Selma  to  York  (81  miles),  was  chartered  February 
17,  1850  and  opened  August  10. 

1865. — The  Mobile  Advertiser  and  Register  (September  3) 


KING  COTTON 


151 


gave  the  following  statement  of  the  cotton  trade  of  that  port  for 
the  year  ended  August  31,  1865 : Stock  on  hand  and  on  ship- 
board, not  cleared,  24,290  bales;  exported  to  Great  Britain,  5,755; 
shipped  coastwise  to  United  States  ports,  51,850 ; burned  and 
destroyed  by  explosion,  11,410 ; total,  9'3,305  bales. 

1866.  — Dr.  N.  B.  Cloud,  of  IMontgomery,  in  an  article  on 
“Cotton  Culture”  said  of  the  new  varieties:  “The  various 
new  and  improved  varieties  of  cotton  seed  which  from  time 
to  time  have  enjoyed  a brief,  but  lucrative  popularity,  such 
as  the  Brown,  the  Banana,  the  Cluster,  the  Hogan,  the  Sugar 
Loaf,  Boyd’s  Prolific,  and  Hundred  Seed,  were  developed  from 
the  ordinary  Mexican  or  Petit  Gulf,  by  carefully  selecting  the 
seed  and  careful  cultivation  in  rich  soils.  For  some  time  the 
Mastodon  seed  commanded  $5  per  bushel.  The  ‘Hundred,’  a 
superior  variety  developed  by  Col.  Vick,  of  Vicksburg,  Miss., 
from  the  Petit  Gulf  sold  year  after  year  at  $2  per  bushel,  and  the 
‘Banana’  had  such  a wonderful  reputation  15  years  ago  that  the 
seeds  were  sold  at  a dime  each,  or  $150  a bushel.  Very  little  has 
ever  been  gained  by  importing  foreign  seeds,  such  as  ‘Nankin,’ 
or  Egyptian,  or  West  Indian  varieties.” 

The  tax  on  cotton  collected  by  the  Federal  government  in  the 
State  amounted  to  $3,733,620. 

About  42  per  cent,  of  the  crop  was  destroyed  this  year  by 
the  caterpillar.  They  destroyed  nearly  all  of  the  crop  in  Greene 
county. 

1867.  — The  tax  on  cotton  collected  by  the  Federal  govern- 
ment amounted  to  $3,049,868 ; and  in  1868,  to  $3,604,584. 

1868.  — Great  damage  to  the  crop  from  the  ravages  of  the 
caterpillars.  One-half  the  crop  was  lost  in  Clay,  Conecuh,  St. 
Clair,  Marshall,  and  Lawrence  counties,  and  one-fourth  in  Cren- 
shaw and  Barbour  counties. 

1869.  — There  were  8 cotton  mills  in  the  State  with  27,364 
spindles. 

IMontgomery  county  showed  the  highest  total  production, 
25,517  bales. 

1870.  — There  were  1,157  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this 
year. 

The  Mobile  & Girard  Railroad,  now  the  Central,  from 


152 


ALABAMA 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Alabama,  1870-1879 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1870-71 

Bales 

645.000 

505.000 

550.000 

675.000 

520.000 

600.000 

Bales 

8.808 

10.560 

15.081 

1871-72 

1872-73 

1873-74 

13,772 

16 

57,594 

58,480 

1874-75  ... 

14,561 

10,452 

9 906 

14 

1875-76 

1876-77 

533.000 

606.000 
539,015 
699,6.54 

1877-78 

11.778 

14  508 

1878-79 

1879-80 

14.702 

16 

49,432 

Columbus,  Ga.,  to  Troy  (84  miles),  was  chartered  in  1846  and 
the  road  opened  to  Troy,  June  15. 

The  New  Orleans  & iMobile  Railroad,  now  the  Louisville 
& Nashville,  from  INIobile  to  New  Orleans  (141  miles),  was 
chartered  in  1866,  and  completed  October  29. 

1871.  — The  Alabama  Great  Southern  Railroad,  now  operated 
by  the  Southern  Railway,  from  Chattanooga  to  Meridian  (296 
miles),  was  originally  chartered  December,  1853,  as  the  Northeast 
& Southwest  Alabama  Railroad,  and  was  reorganized  as  the 
Alabama  & Chattanooga  Railroad  in  1868,  and  opened  for  traffic 
May  17. 

The  Selma  & Gulf  Railroad,  now  the  Louisville  & Nash- 
ville, from  Selma  to  Pineapple  (40  miles),  was  chartered  in  1866, 
and  opened  May  1. 

The  Mobile  Cotton  Exchange  was  incorporated  November  13. 

The  crop  was  considerably  damaged  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  State  from  excessive  rainfall  during  the  month  of  June. 

The  Montgomery  & Eufaula  Railroad,  now  the  Central  of 
Georgia,  from  Montgomery  to  Eufaula  (80  miles),  was  char- 
tered in  1860,  opened  from  Montgomery  to  Union  Springs  June 
10,  1869,  and  completed  to  Eufaula  in  October. 

1872.  — The  South  & North  Alabama  Railroad,  now  the 
Louisville  & Nashville,  from  Decatur  to  Montgomery  (183 
miles),  was  completed  and  opened  October  1.  The  Wetumpka 
branch  was  completed  July  1,  1878. 

The  crop  was  damaged  bv  the  caterpillar. 

In  some  localities  “the  boll-worm  vied  with  the  cotton-worm 


KING  COTTON 


153 


in  its  destructive  influence.”  All  through  the  canebrake  region 
the  loss  was  severe. 

1873. — The  crop  was  damaged  by  the  caterpillar  in  thirty- 
eight  counties.  The  destruction  was  not  so  great,  however,  as 
in  1872,  which  was  the  worst  the  State  had  experienced. 

The  Mobile  & Alabama  Grand  Trunk  Railroad,  now  a part 
of  the  Southern  Railway  system,  from  Mobile  to  Bigbee  River 
Bridge  (59  miles),  was  chartered  in  1866  and  completed  in  Sep- 
tember. Subsequently,  as  the  Mobile  & Birmingham  Railway, 
the  line  was  extended  (about  1890)  to  Marion  Junction. 

1871. — The  Columbus  & Western  Railroad,  now  the  Central 
of  Georgia,  from  Opelika  to  Goodwater  (60  miles),  was  char- 
tered in  1859,  opened  from  Opelika  to  Camp  Hill  in  1869,  to 
Dadeville  in  1871  and  to  Goodwater  in  1871.  This  line  was 
subsequently  extended  (about  1890)  to  Birmingham  and  after- 
wards to  Americus,  Ga.  (222  miles),  giving  Birmingham  a direct 
connection  with  Savannah. 

1876. — The  crop  was  damaged  by  the  caterpillar,  and  50  per 
cent,  of  the  top  crop  destroyed  in  Conecuh  county,  and  10  per 
cent,  in  Hale  county.  The  greatest  injury  was  done  in  the 
canebrake  counties. 

1878.  — The  cotton-worm  damaged  the  crop  in  the  central  part 
of  the  State. 

1879.  — Dallas  county  census  reports  showed  the  largest  total 
production,  33,531  bales,  and  Baldwin  the  highest  yield  per  acre, 
.16  of  a bale. 

There  were  three  cotton  oil  mills  in  the  State,  at  this  time. 

The  Department  of  Agriculture  estimated  the  damage  to 
the  crop  from  cotton-worms,  from  1875  to  1878,  inclusive,  at 
536,700  bales,  valued  at  $1,789,000. 

1880.  — There  were  1,813  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this 
year. 

1881.  — Boll-worms,  as  estimated  by  the  Agricultural  Depart- 
ment, destroyed  51,319  bales  of  cotton.  The  ravages  of  the 
worm  were  more  destructive  in  Alabama  than  in  any  other 
State. 

1882.  — The  East  & West  Railroad  from  Cartersville,  Ga., 


154 


ALABAMA 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Alabama,  1880-1889 


Year 

I'otal 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1880-81 

Bales 

842.072 

Bales 

20,136 

No  data 

No  data 

1881-82 

581.000 

17,076 

do 

do 

1882-83 

810,000 

18,624 

do 

do 

1883-84 

630,400 

20,230 

do 

do 

1884-85 

648,700 

18,802 

do 

do 

1885-86 

760,447 

22,669 

do 

do 

1886-87 

752,220 

23,646 

17 

69, .308 

1887-88 

842,880 

25,055 

16 

79,004 

1888-89 

905,315 

30,947 

17 

87,968 

1889-90 

915,210 

29,942 

13 

79,2.34 

to  Pell  City  (117  miles)  was  chartered  early  in  this  year  and 
opened  in  October. 

The  crop  was  damaged  by  the  boll-worm. 

1883.  — The  general  testimony  of  planters  was  that  the  cotton- 
worm  appeared  earlier  than  for  many  years.  In  Butler  county, 
its  presence  was  reported  on  the  14th  day  of  May,  or  twenty 
days  earlier  than  ever  known  before.  The  great  damage  threat- 
ened by  this  early  appearance  was  prevented  by  dry  weather 
during  June  and  July,  so  that  later  in  the  season  there  was  no 
unusual  abundance  of  the  insect. 

A cotton-picking  machine  consisting  of  a rotary  rake,  having 
tines  and  fan-blades  and  rotary  brush,  was  devised  and  patented 
by  B.  T.  Curry,  of  Huntsville. 

There  were  20  cotton  oil  mills  in  operation  in  the  .State  at  this 
time. 

1884.  — The  caterpillar  and  boll-worms  again  made  their 
appearance.  The  latter  insects  were,  however,  much  less  numer- 
ous than  during  the  preceding  year. 

1885.  — Drought  in  August  injured  the  crop. 

1886.  — A handsome  new  Cotton  Exchange  building  was  dedi- 
cated (Alarch  1)  at  Mobile. 

1887.  — The  Georgia  Pacific  Railroad,  now  the  Southern  Rail- 
way from  Atlanta  to  Columbus,  Miss.  (291  miles),  was  char- 
tered in  December,  1881,  opened  from  Atlanta  to  Anniston  (103 
miles),  in  March,  1883;  to  Birmingham  (167  miles),  November 
18,  1883,  and  to  Columbus  in  1887.  This  line  was  extended  to 
the  Mississippi  river  in  1889. 


KING  COTTON 


155 


The  Kansas  City,  ^lemphis  & Birmingham  Railroad,  now 
the  St.  Louis  & San  Francisco  Railway,  from  Birmingham 
to  Memphis  (251  miles),  was  completed  in  October,  and  its  Bes- 
semer branch  the  following  year. 

1888.  — J.  W.  Wallis,  of  Pickens  county,  obtained  a patent 
for  a cotton  picking  device,  said  to  be  based  on  a new  principle 
in  inventions  for  this  purpose.  Its  main  feature  consisted  of 
stationary  and  oscillating  circular  saws. 

A Cotton  Exchange  was  organized  at  Eufaula. 

The  crops  planted  early  in  the  season  suffered  considerable 
damage  from  lice  and  cut-worms. 

1889.  — Dallas  county  planted  the  largest  cotton  acreage, 
135,048  acres,  and  Montgomery  made  the  largest  crop,  45,860 
bales. 

A convention  held  at  Birmingham,  composed  of  representa- 
tives of  the  “Alliance  Wheel  and  Union,”  adopted  cotton  bagging 
as  a permanent  covering  for  cotton  bales,  and  appointed  a 
committee  to  confer  with  the  cotton  exchanges,  buyers  and  manu- 
facturers, to  secure  a reduction  of  tare  on  bales  thus  covered. 


COM.MERCIAL  CrOPS  AND  CONSU.MPTION  OF  CoTTON  IN 

Alabama,  1890-1899 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption. 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1890-91 

Bales 

1,011.000 

Bales 

30.364 

17 

89,158 

1891-92 

1.075,000 

39,709 

20 

109,448 

1892-9.3 

740,000 

41,409 

22 

129,776 

1893-94 

810.000 

47,438 

21 

153,601 

1894-95 

900,439 

54,972 

23 

163,460 

1895-96 

663.916 

58,998 

24 

187.192 

1896-97 

833,789 

68,658 

31 

215,004 

1897-98 

1.112.681 

97,404 

37 

263,764 

1898-99 

1.176.042 

121,128 

38 

353,052 

1899-00 

1,103,690 

154,841 

44 

437,200 

1890.  — For  the  first  time  the  crop  exceeded  one  million  bales. 
There  were  3,422  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this  year. 

1891.  — -The  Chattanooga  Railroad  from  Gadsden  to  the 
Georgia  and  Tennessee  State  line  (87  miles)  was  chartered  in 
1890  and  opened  in  June  this  year. 

The  Georgia  & Alabama  Railroad,  now  the  Seaboard  Air 
Line,  from  ^Montgomery  to  Lyons,  Georgia  (near  Savannah), 


156 


ALABAMA 


and  a distance  of  265  miles,  was  completed  about  the  close  of  this 
year. 

1893. — Congressman  W.  C.  Oates,  of  Eufaula,  reported  from 
the  House  Judiciary  Committee,  the  passage  of  which  was  recom- 
mended by  the  Committee,  a bill  providing  for  opening  the 
United  States  Court  of  Claims  to  those  who  had  paid  taxes  on 
cotton  from  1862  to  1868,  and  then  for  a stay  of  proceedings 
until  the  Lmited  States  Supreme  Court  should  pass  upon  the  con- 
stitutionality of  the  cotton  tax  law.  The  bill  stated  that  by  Act 
of  Congress  approved  July  1,  1862,  and  subsequent  amending 
acts,  a tax  was  imposed  on  raw  cotton,  tinder  which  collections 
were  made  and  the  money  paid  into  the  Treasury  of  the  United 
States,  aggregating  $68,072,388.  This  money  was  collected  in 
•the  years  1863  to  1868,  inclusive. 

In  reply  to  some  questions  of  the  United  States  Senate  Com- 
mittee on  Agriculture,  Hiram  Hawkins,  of  Barbour  county, 
stated  that  the  cost  of  raising  cotton  in  the  past  ten  years  had 
diminished.  The  cotton  producer  had  learned  to  use  more  econ- 
omy on  the  farm,  bought  less  of  what  he  could  raise  at  home, 
and  by  organized  cooperation  had  learned  to  buy  fertilizers, 
goods  and  implements  cheaper  than  as  an  individual.  Rent  of 
land  was  also  cheaper.  Labor,  considering  its  productive 
capacity,  about  the  same  cost.  Farm  animals  were  somewhat 
cheaper,  and  more  of  them  v/ere  raised  on  the  farm. 

A patent  was  granted  to  Louis  Cooper,  of  Bolling,  for  a 
cotton-harvester  consisting  of  a series  of  revolving  picker-cylin- 
ders combined  with  brush  and  fan. 

1895.  — The  experiments  conducted  this  year  with  Egyptian 
cotton  seed,  bv  the  State  Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  were 
not  at  all  satisfactory. 

1896.  — Of  seventeen  varieties  of  cotton  tested  at  the  Auburn 
Agricultural  Station,  Hutchinson  ranked  first  in  yield,  value  of 
lint,  and  value  of  total  product.  Truitt  stood  second,  Dickson 
Cluster  third,  and  Peerless  fourth. 

The  following  is  a summary  from  a report  on  “Experiments 
with  Cotton”  by  J.  F.  Duggar,  Agriculturist  of  the  Alabama 
Experiment  Station  : — New  cotton  seed  are  to  be  preferred  since 
they  usually  insure  a better  stand ; the  use  of  a roller  after  plant- 


KING  COTTON 


157 


ing  cotton  caused  the  seeds  to  come  up  promptly  and  greatly 
improved  the  stand  of  young  plants ; at  experiment  stations  and 
on  a great  number  of  well-managed  farms,  barring  off  is  never 
practiced,  but  shallow  cultivation  with  some  form  of  scrape  is 
substituted ; m rows  3%  feet  apart — larger  yields  were  obtained 
where  the  single  plants  stood  12  or  18  inches  apart  than  where 
the  distance  between  the  plants  was  24,  or  30,  or  36  inches ; 
subsoiling  with  a scooter  gave  an  increase  of  46  pounds  of  lint 
and  93  pounds  of  seed  per  acre  over  the  yield  of  land  not  sub- 
soiled ; a mixture  of  Kainit  and  cotton  seed  meal  proved  more 
profitable  in  the  dry  season  of  this  year  than  any  other  fertilizer 
combination. 

The  average  cost  of  cotton  production  this  year,  as  ascertained 
by  the  Department  of  Agriculture  was  5.38  cents  per  pound. 

1897.  — The  group  of  varieties  of  cotton  yielding  most  lint  at 
the  State  Experiment  Station  were:  Texas  Oak,  Griffin,  Hawkins, 
Bearing,  Mell  Cross  No.  15,  Jones  Reimproved,  Duncan,  Hutchin- 
son, Peter  kin,  Truitt  and  Whatley. 

1898.  — The  largest  crop  in  the  history  of  the  State  to  date, 
1,176,042  bales,  was  produced  this  year. 

1899.  — There  were  4,051  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this 
year. 

Dallas  county  had  the  largest  total  production,  43,503 
bales. 

During  this  year  192,388  farmers  cultivated  3,202,125  acres 
in  cotton,  which  produced  546,848,659  pounds  of  lint,  or  an 
average  of  171  pounds  to  the  acre.  The  five  leading  cotton 
growing  counties,  ranking  in  the  order  named  were : Dallas, 
IMontgomery,  Lowndes,  Marengo  and  Bullock. 

The  cotton  mills  in  Madison  county  .consumed  this  year 
14,360  bales  of  cotton,  while  the  production  of  the  county  was 
not  quite  16,000  bales.  The  mills  of  Montgomery  consumed 
20,489'  bales,  while  the  production  was  41,183  .bales. 

There  were  4,034  cotton  gins  in  operation  in  1899,  4,044  in 
1900,  and  4,161  in  1901.  According  to  the  Census  the  average 
output  of  each  gin  for  each  season  was,  respectively,  274,  and 
263,  and  278  bales.  The  average  cost  for  ginning  and  baling  in 
1899  was  $1.47  per  bale. 


158 


• ALABAMA 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Alabama,  1900-1908 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

ConsumptioTj 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1900-01 

Rales 

1,061,678 

Bales 

157,832 

49 

550,966 

1901-02 

] .156,812 

196.137 

54 

622,794 

1902-03 

1,011.325 

201,303 

54 

694,386 

1903-04 

1,023,959 

220.236 

56 

775,064 

1904-05 

1,461,990 

229,121 

60 

802,062 

1905-06 

1,242,326 

240„550 

60 

877,606 

1906-07 

1.241,133 

249.119 

62 

897,768 

1907-08 

1,113,093 

198,326 

62 

945,112 

1900.^ — Of  the  numerous  varieties  of  cotton  experimented  with 
at  the  Auburn  Agricultural  Station,  from  1890  to  1900,  inclusive, 
the  best  records  were  made  by  Peterkin  and  Truitt,  the  average 
yield  of  lint  per  acre  for  the  seven  years  being  417  pounds  for 
the  first,  and  425  pounds  for  the  second  variety. 

In  a Bulletin  on  the  “Varieties  of  Cotton,”  prepared  by  J. 
F.  Duggar,  Agriculturist  of  the  State  Experiment  Station,  the 
following  suggestions  were  made  as  to  the  selection  of  a variety 
for  planting;  “No  one  variety  can  be  universally  recommended. 
A knowledge  of  the  characteristics  of  each  variety  may  some- 
times aid  a farmer  in  the  selection  of  a kind  suited  to  his 
conditions.  For  example,  in  the  extreme  northern  portion  of 
the  cotton  belt,  where  the  growing  season  is  short,  earliness  is 
one  of  the  qualities  desired.  The  King,  Welborn,  Dickson  and 
Peerless,  are  among  the  safe  varieties  for  localities  where  the 
growing  season  is  short.  Other  qualities  besides  earliness,  which 
must  be  taken  into  consideration  in  choosing  a variety,  are  ease 
of  picking,  ability  to  withstand  unfavorable  weather  without 
excessive  shedding  of  forms,  relative  resistance  to  rust,  tendency 
to  produce  a clean  or  trashy  cotton,  relative  freedom  from  boll 
rot,  etc..” 

There  were  in  operation  this  year  twenty-seven  cotton  oil 
mills  that  consumed  172,093  tons  of  seed  valued  at  $2,019,085. 
Of  the  seed  produced  in  the  State  31.9  per  cent,  was  manufactured 
into  oil  products,  valued  at  $2,952,254. 

During  the  season  1900-1901,  eight  new  cotton  mills  were 
completed  and  eleven  projected. 


KING  COTTON 


159 


1900.  — Cotton  seed  crushers  paid  this  season  as  high  as  $22.00 
per  ton  for  seed. 

The  first  new  bale  of  the  season  was  received  at  Selma  August 
10.  In  1899  Selma  received  the  first  bale  August  2 ; in  1898 
Mobile  received  the  first  bale  August  6 ; in  1897,  July  31 ; and 
in  1896,  July  26.  In  1894  Selma  received  the  first  new  bale 
August  10,  and  in  1893,  Ozark,  the  first  new  bale  arrived  on 
August  2. 

1901.  — The  receipts  at  Montgomery  at  the  close  of  the  season 
were  150,341,  and  at  Selma  69,232  bales.  The  year  previous  the 
receipts  at  the  former  were  163,382  bales,  and  the  latter,  69,841. 

1903. — The  receipts  at  Montgomery  were  129,195  bales,  and 
at  Selma  67,164,  the  lightest  in  some  years. 

The  stocks  at  interior  towns  at  the  close  of  the  season, 
August  31,  were  less  than  ever  before  known,  consisting  of  less 
than  1,500  bales. 

1905.  — The  State  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  estimated  a 
reduction  of  12  per  cent,  in  the  area  planted  in  cotton. 

The  receipts  at  INIontgomery  and  Selma  were  larger  than  in 
any  previous  year,  the  former  being  210,765  bales  and  the  latter, 
126,102  bales' 

1906.  — A terrific  storm,  September  27-28,  passed  over  a large 
area  in  the  southwestern  section  of  the  State  causing  orreat 

O C? 

destruction  to  the  cotton  crop. 

1907.  — The  Legislature  enacted  a law,  prohibiting  speculation 
in  cotton  for  future  delivery. 

A resolution  charging  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture  with 
inaccuracy  in  estimating  this  year’s  crop  (11,678,000  bales)  and 
calling  on  him  to  furnish  to  Congress  the  figures  and  the  informa- 
tion upon  which  he  based  his  estimate,  was  introduced  in  the 
House  (December  16)  by  Representative  Heflin  of  Alabama. 

According  to  the  Census  there  were  3,460  cotton  gins  in 
operation,  the  average  output  of  each  gin  being  324  bales. 

There  were  67  cotton  oil  mills  in  the  State  that  consumed 
193,801  tons  of  seed,  costing  $3,459,348.  The  value  of  the  prod- 
ucts, including  linters,  was  $4,969,827. 


CHAPTER  VHI 


Mississippi,  and  its  Cotton  Crops  from  1800  to  1908 — Nxjm- 
BFR  OF  Cotton  Mills  and  Spindles  and  Domestic  Con- 
sumption OF  Cotton — Historical  Data  Relating  to 
Cotton  Production. 

The  first  mention  of  cotton  growing  in  Mississippi  is  found 
in  the  journal  of  a voyage  down  the  Mississippi  river  by  M. 
Charlevoix.  He  arrived  at  Natchez  in  December,  1722,  and 
there  saw  “in  the  garden  of  Sieur  le  Noir,  chief  clerk,  very  fine 
cotton  on  the  tree.”  About  the  same  time,  Capt.  Roman  of  the 
British  army,  saw  in  southeast  Mississippi,  on  the  Pascagoula 
river,  the  black  seed  cotton  growing  on  the  plantation  of  Mr. 
Krebs,  and  also  a machine’-  invented  by  Mr.  Krebs,  which  sepa- 
rated the  lint  from  the  seed.^ 

In  1728  the  colony  of  Louisiana,  which  at  that  time  included 
Mississippi,  was  in  a flourishing  condition,  its  fields  being  culti- 
vated in  cotton,  indigo,  tobacco  and  grain  by  2,000  slaves. 
Seven  years  later  (1735),  Bienville,  in  one  of  his  dispatches  to 
his  government  stated  that  the  cultivation  of  cotton  was  proving 
advantageous ; and  in  1746,  Governor  Vaudreuil,  in  a dispatch  to 
the  French  Minister,  mentions  cotton  among  the  articles  received 
annually  at  New  Orleans  by  boats  that  came  down  the  river.® 
Referring  to  the  period  immediately  following  O’Reilly’s 
installment  as  the  first  Spanish  governor  of  Louisiana  (1769), 
.Stoddard  * says : “Agriculturists  from  the  English  settlements 
began  to  turn  their  attention  to  the  country  about  Natchez,  and 
the  culture  of  cotton  became  an  object  of  importance.”  How 
important,  is  evidenced  from  an  address  to  Governor  I.emos  by 
the  Natchez  planters  in  which  they  complained  of  the  unjust 
exactions  of  the  merchants  against  them.  In  this  address  they 

See  Alabama  Notes,  p.  135. 

2 The  Cotton  Plant,  Dept,  of  Agriculture. 

® Agriculture  and  Geology  of  Mississippi;  Wailes. 

^ Plistory  of  Louisiana. 


160 


KING  COTTON 


161 


say:  "The  merchants  last  year  (1791)  gave  notice  that  they 
would  take  corn  at  half  a dollar  per  bushel,  beef  at  $4.00  per  100, 
and  cotton  at  $25.00  per  100  in  payment  of  debts.  * * * We  are 
now  informed  that  while  they  will  not  abate  their  charges  for 
merchandise  they  expect  to  have  their  debts  paid  in  silver  dollars. 
They  encourage  us  to  go  into  the  culture  of  indigo,  cotton, 
tobacco  and  corn,  and  after  all  the  expense  of  preparation,  they 
decline  to  take  our  produce  unless  they  regulate  the  price.”  ^ 

In  1772,  Captain  Roman,  of  the  British  army,  was  at  East 
Pascagoula,  and  saw  the  black  seed  cotton  growing  on  the  plan- 
tation of  iNIr.  Krebs,  and  he  also  saw  a machine  of  Mr.  Krebs’ 
invention  for  separating  the  lint  from  the  seed. 

In  1795,  John  Miller,  an  eminent  London  merchant,  wrote  to 
Col.  Hutchins  of  Natchez:  “The  cotton  grown  by  your  son-in- 
law,  William  \’ousden.  Esq.,  of  Natchez,  shipped  here  by  Mr. 
David  Ross,  sold  for  a great  price,  2s.  4d.  per  pound.  It  was 
very  clean  and  the  quality  excellent,  almost  equal  to  the  best 
Georgia  sea-island.”  The  seed  then  in  use  had  been  obtained 
from  Georgia  and  Jamaica.  It  was  a black  seed  producing  a 
fine  fiber  and  good  staple,  and  was  the  only  variety  planted  until 
1811.  The  rot  then  appeared,  and  in  a year  or  two  became  so 
destructive  that  sometimes  one-half  of  the  crop  was  lost.  The 
rot  disappeared  after  the  introduction  of  the  green  seed  variety 
from  Tennessee. 

Daniel  Clark,  in  a letter  to  the  Secretary  of  State,  giving  an 
account  of  the  commerce  of  Louisiana  and  the  resources  of  the 
iMississippi  country  in  1797,  says  that  when  the  planters  of  the 
Natchez  abandoned  tobacco  culture  they  next  “turned  their  atten- 
tion to  indigo,  which  they  raised  wdth  success,  but  changed  this 
branch  for  that  of  cotton,  which  now  forms  the  staple  article 
of  their  growth,  and  bids  fair  to  be  an  object  of  the  greatest 
importance.  The  crop  of  last  year  from  that  district  is  supposed 
to  exceed  -4  000  bales  of  250  pounds  each,  and  the  average  price 
has  been  20  cents  per  pound.”  - 

The  Whitney  saw  gin  w^as  introduced  in  Mississippi  in  1795. 
Wailes  says  that  Col.  Daniel  Clark,  then  living  near  Ft.  Adams, 


1 Mississippi  as  a Province,  Territory  and  State;  Claiborne. 

2 American  State  Papers;'  1790-1825. 

11 


162 


AIISSISSIPPI 


Wilkinson  county,  had  one  constructed  almost  entirely  by  a 
negro  mechanic  from  a rude  drawing  and  a description  of  Whit- 
ney’s gin  by  a traveler  who  had  seen  it  in  Georgia.  A year  or 
two  following,  a Whitney  gin,  no  doubt  the  second  one  in  the 
territory,  was  operated  by  Thomas  Wilkins,  on  Pine  Ridge  near 
Natchez.  Pl  is  also  known  that  several  gins  were  in  operation 
in  Adams  county  previous  to  the  Spanish  evacuation  of  the 
territory.  In  1796  David  Greenleaf,  an  ingenious  mechanic,  was 
constructing  gins  in  the  vicinity  of  Natchez.  He  built  the  first 
public  or  toll  gin  at  Selsertown,  which  for  many  years  was 
operated  by  Edmund  Andrews. 

After  the  introduction  of  the  Whitney  gin,  the  most  important 
event  that  occurred  in  the  early  history  of  cotton  planting,  was 
the  introduction  of  the  Mexican  cotton  seed,  during  the  decade 
1800-1810.^  In  almost  every  respect  it  was  superior  to  any 
variety  then  in  use,  but  its  chief  superiority  was  the  hardiness  of 
the  plant,  the  increased  yield,  and  the  ease  with  which  it  could 
be  picked  from  the  pods.  Other  varieties  were  subject  to  rot, 
which  destroyed  a considerable  portion  of  the  crop,  the  yield  was 
one-fourth  less,  and  less  than  100  pounds  was  the  average  day’s 
picking  per  hand.  The  iMexican  variety  was  free  from  rot, 
and  a hand  could  pick  from  200  to  300  pounds  in  a day. 

During  the  first  two  decades,  1800-1810,  and  1810-1820,  the 
cotton  crop  increased  from  2,000  to  49,000  bales,  and  in  the  next 
decade  from  48,000  to  121,000. 

Beginning  with  1833  the  sale  of  public  lands  in  Mississippi 
was  extraordinary,  amounting  in  four  years  to  nearly  seven  and 
a c[uarter  million  acres.  From  1833  to  1843,  the  total  sales  were 
7,798,000  acres.  Within  this  period  the  cotton  crop  increased 
from  215,000  to  553,000  bales.  In  the  decade  preceding  the  Civil 
War,  1850-1860,  the  increase  was  from  501,000  to  1,202,000 
bales  in  1859,  the  latter  being  the  largest  crop  produced  to  date. 

Following  the  Civil  War  the  first  crop  made  (1866) 
amounted  tu  306,000  bales,  which  was  larger  than  that  of  any 
other  State  for  this  year.  In  the  decade,  1870-1880,  there  was 
an  increase  from  650,000  to  963,000  bales,  and  in  the  following 
decade  to  1.155,000.  It  was  not  until  1890,  or  24  years  after  the 


^ See  notes,  1806  and  1846;  pp.  165  and  17  2. 


KING  COTTOxN 


163 


Civil  War,  that  the  State  again  produced  a crop  equal  to  the 
great  crop  of  1859.  The  largest  crop  in  the  history  of  the  State 
was  that  of  1901,  when  the  yield  amounted  to  1,775,000  bales. 

The  area  planted  in  cotton  in  1879,  according  to  the  Census, 
was  2,106,000  acres,  and  as  estimated  by  the  Department  of 
Agriculture,  3,160,000  acres  in  1906,  showing  an  increase  of 
1,351,000  acres,  or  about  61  per  cent.  The  production  in  1879, 
as  given  by  the  Census,  was  963,000  bales,  and  in  1906,  1,181,000, 
an  increase  of  521,000  bales,  or  51  per  cent.  The  increase  in 
area  is,  therefore,  apparently  10  per  cent,  greater  since  1879  than 
the  increase  in  production. 


Co.MMERCiAL  Cotton  Crops  of  Mississippi,  1800-1809 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

lSOO-01 

2,000 

1805-06 

5 000 

lSOl-02 

2, .500 

1806-07 

3, .500 

1S02-03 

3,101 

1807-08 

•^,000 

1803-04 

2.500 

1808-09 

5.600 

1804-05 

3,000 

1809-10 

4,000 

1800.  — The  usual  task  for  a cotton  picker  was  75  or  80  pounds 
of  the  black  seed  variety,  and  of  sea-island  from  50  to  70  pounds 
a day. 

1801.  — Sir  William  Dunbar,  an  extensive  cotton  planter 
when  the  Itlississippi  territory  was  under  British  dominion,  is 
credited  with  having  introduced  the  first  cotton  screw  press. 
The  press  was  made  for  him  in  Philadelphia,  in  1801,  after  a 
model  sent  by  him  to  John  Ross.  It  cost  $1,000,  and  upon  its 
receipt  he  wrote  his  correspondent : — “1  shall  endeavor  to  indem- 
nify myself  for  the  cost  by  making  cotton  seed  oil.  It  will 
probably  be  of  a grade  between  drying  and  fat-oils,  resembling 
that  made  from  linseed  in  color  and  tenacity,  but  less  drying. 
Where,”  he  asked,  “can  a market  be  found  for  such  oil?”  This 
letter  induced  Claiborne,  the  Mississippi  historian,  to  believe  that 
Sir  William  was  the  first  to  suggest  the  use  of  cotton  seed  oil. 
This,  however,  was  a mistake.  The  honor  belongs  to  Dr.  Otts, 
a ^Moravian  of  Bethlehem,  Pa.,  who  sent  a sample  of  oil  made 
from  cotton  seed  to  the  American  Philosophical  Society  in  1768. 
In  a letter  accompanying  the  sample  he  said:  “This  is  the  ol. 


164 


MISSISSIPPI 


Bombac,  or  oil  of  cotton  seed,  one  bnshel  and  a half  of  which 
yields  9 pints  of  oil,  and  I have  been  informed  it  is  successfully 
used  in  the  West  Indies  for  colic.” 

1803. — Mississippi  cotton  was  undoubtedly  an  article  of 
export  at  this  time,  for  the  Charleston  Courier  of  that  year  in 
its  Price  Current  quotes  Mississippi  cotton  as  worth  20  cents  a 
pound.  Prices  current  at  Natchez,  June  27,  1803,  are  thus 
quoted:  “Cotton  (ginned),  $14  to  $15  per  hundred  pounds, 
dull.” 

1806. — writer,  in  the  Historical  Magazine,  referring  to  the 
origin  of  the  name  of  the  town  in  Mississippi  called  Cotton  Gin 
Port,  says : "The  histor}'  of  Cotton  Gin  Port  was  known  to  the 
writer  as  early  as  1818.  When  there  in  1833,  the  remains  of  a 
large  house  were  standing  on  a plantation  of  some  extent  near 
the  place,  but  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  and  recently  aban- 
doned, the  lands  having  a short  time  before  been  ceded  to  the 
United  States.  It  had  been  the  residence  of  George  Colbert,  the 
Chickasaw  Chief,  an  intelligent  and  interesting  half-breed  who 
had  accumulated  considerable  property,  and  had  cultivated  cotton 
for  many  years ; and  the  writer  has  always  understood  the  place 
took  its  name  from  the  fact  that  Colbert  had  established  a public 
gin  there  for  the  benefit  of  the  people  of  his  tribe,  many  of  whom, 
at  that  early  day,  raised  cotton  to  a limited  extent.” 

Among  the  varieties  of  cotton  cultivated  in  Mississippi,  were 
the  sea-island,  the  upland,  the  Tennessee  green  seed  and  the 
Mexican.  The  upland  first  cultivated  differed  from  the  sea- 
island  in  the  color  of  the  blossom,  the  size  and  form  of  the  boll, 
and  in  the  length  and  fineness  of  the  staple.  Both  were  smooth, 
black,  naked  seed.  The  Tennessee  cotton  seed  was  invested  with 
a thick  green  down,  adhering  firmly  and  was  difficult  to  gather. 
It  superseded  the  black  seed  because  of  its  freedom  from  rot.  In 
time  both  gave  way  to  the  Mexican.  The  superiority  of  the 
Mexican  consisted  in  its  vigorous  growth,  large  size  boll,  which 
opened  so  freely  that  picking  became  much  less  difficult.  Three 
times  more  Mexican  could  be  picked  than  any  other  variety. 
Like  the  Tennessee,  the  seeds  though  larger,  were  coated  with 
a coarse,  felt-like  down,  of  a dingy  white  or  brown  color.  As  to 
the  origin  of  this  seed,  it  was  believed  to  have  been  introduced  by 


KING  COTTON 


165 


Walter  Burling,  of  Natchez.  It  is  related  that  when  in  the  City 
oi  iMexico,  where  he  was  sent  by  General  Wilkinson  in  1806  on 
a government  mission,  he  dined  with  the  Viceroy,  and  in  the 
course  of  conversation  on  the  products  of  the  country  he 
requested  permission  to  import  some  of  the  Mexican  cotton  seed 
— a request  which  was  not  granted  on  the  ground  that  it  was 
forbidden  by  the  Spanish  government.  But  the  Viceroy,  over  his 
wine,  sportively  accorded  him  free  permission  to  take  home  as 
many  Alexican  dolls  as  he  might  fancy,  a permission  well  under- 
stood, and  which  in  the  same  vein  was  as  freely  accepted.  The 
stuffing  of  these  dolls  is  understood  to  have  been  cotton  seed. 

Wilkinson,  in  his  history  (Mississippi  as  a Province,  Terri- 
tory, and  State),  says  that  Dr.  Rush  Nutt,  “a  distinguished 
planter  and  scientist,”  who  removed  from  Virginia  and  settled 
near  the  old  town  of  Greenville,  Jefiferson  county,  in  1805,  and 
subsequently  at  Petit  Gulf,  also  obtained  seed  from  Mexico, 
and  by  careful  selection  brought  it  to  perfection.  “The  exact 
locality,”  he  says  “whence  that  seed  (Petit  Gulf)  was  obtained  is 
unknown.  Dr.  Nutt  had  traveled  extensively  in  cotton  producing 
counties,  and  brought  home  many  varieties  which  were  carefully 
tested,  but  he  found  only  one  that  ‘filled  the  bill.’  Whether  this 
seed  had  been  picked  up  by  him  in  his  travels,  or  had  been  given 
to  him,  as  is  generally  believed,  by  some  passing  wayfarer  cannot 
now  be  ascertained.  The  characteristics  of  the  new  variety  were 
a vigorous  stalk,  with  short  jointed  limbs  branching  out  nearer 
the  ground,  numerous  large  bolls,  strong  and  fine  staple,  easily 
picked,  yielding  more  than  any  other  cotton,  and  not  subject  to 
rot.  The  original  seed  were  large,  white  and  woolho  It  was 
called  the  Petit  Gulf  seed  because  first  planted  on  the  rich  cane 
hills  of  that  locality,  once  so  renowned  for  the  production  of 
cotton  and  for  its  skilful  and  opulent  planters.  The  demand  for 
this  seed  became  co-extensive  with  the  cotton  zone  and,  in  many 
instances,  yielded  a revenue  equal  to  the  lint.  Importations  have 
been  subsequently  made  from  Mexico,  Guatamala,  Eg3'pt  and 
other  countries,  but  no  variet}^  introduced  has  proved  equal  to 
the  original  Petit  Gulf.” 

For  the  accommodation  of  planters  who  could  not  aflford  to 
build  gins,  some  of  the  merchants  of  Natchez  erected  public  gins. 


166 


MISSISSIPPI 


in  and  near  that  city.  They  charged  a toll  of  one-tenth  for 
ginning,  calculating  upon  a yield  of  one-fourth  of  lint  cotton. 
On  the  delivery  of  his  cotton  at  the  gin,  the  planter  received 
what  was  called  a “cotton  receipt.”  These  receipts  were  made 
negotiable  by  law,  and  became  literally  the  circulating  medium  of 
the  country.  They  were  received  by  merchants  in  payment  of 
accounts,  or  for  purchases  of  goods,  and  were  also  readily 
disposed  of  at  the  rate  of  $5  per  hundred  pounds  of  seed  cotton, 
thus  relieving  the  planter  of  all  further  trouble  and  charges, 
the. expense  of  packing,  hauling,  shipping,  storage,  insurance,  etc. 

1807. — Eleazer  Carver  began  making  cotton  gins,  near  the 
town  of  Washington,  in  Mississippi  Territory.  His  business 
increased  so  rapidly  that  he  afterwards  removed  to  Bridgewater, 
Mass.,  where  the  facilities  for  enlarging  his  business  were  much 
better. 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  Mississippi,  1S10-1S19 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1810-11 

.3.000 

1815-16 

28,238 

1811-12 

4.000 

7.000 

1816-17 

24,000 

26,109 

1812-13 

1817-18 

1813-14 

6,101 

19,101 

1818-19 

49,500 

43,000 

1814-15 

1819-20 

1811. — Steam  navigation  was  introduced  on  the  Mississippi 
river.  The  first  steamboat  was  the  “New  Orleans,”  which  ran 
between  Natchez  and  New  Orleans.  It  was  built  at  Pittsburg 
by  Nicholas  J.  Roosevelt,  of  New  York,  and  is  said  to  have 
earned  some  $20,000  in  little  more  than  a year.  Samuel  Davis 
was  the  first  to  ship  cotton  by  steamboat  from  Natchez,  and  at 
the  time  he  was  thought  to  be  taking  a great  risk. 

1815. — The  “Aetna,”  built  by  the  Mississippi  Steamboat  Com- 
pany at  Pittsburg  in  1815,  was  the  first  steamboat  to  make  the 
trip  up  the  Mississippi  from  New  Orleans  to  Louisville. 

A correspondent  of  Niles’  Register,  writing  from  the  Missis- 
sippi Territory  in  November,  said:  “Our  crops  of  cotton  are 
more  than  half  rotten,  and  strange  to  tell,  although  this  thing  has 
been  creeping  on  us  for  three  years,  our  planters,  merchants, 
philosophers  and  all  are  unable  to  assign  the  cause." 


KING  COTTON 


167 


1816.  — A writter  in  De  Bow’s  Review  referring  to  cotton  plant- 
ing at  this  time  said : All  grew  more  than  they  could  pick.  He 
had  seen  the  hands  still  picking  in  one  part  of  the  field  in  the 
spring,  while  other  hands  in  the  same  field  were  plowing  and 
planting.  I'he  stalks  pulled  up  and  piled  for  burning,  even  as 
late  as  April,  looked  like  banks  of  snow.  Many  Choctaw  Indian 
women  were  employed  every  fall  to  pick  cotton,  and  were  paid 
$1.00  per  hundred  pounds,  in  cash  or  goods,  provisions  and 
whiske}-.  They  did  not  pick  as  much  as  the  negroes,  but  picked 
cleaner. 

1817.  — iMississippi  was  admitted  into  the  Union  December  10. 

1818.  — A’hat  was  known  as  “black”  and  sometimes  “brown 
rot"  caused  considerable  damage  to  the  crop. 

Judge  Shields  wrote  IMr.  Poindexter  from  Natchez:  "The  rot 
has  been  so  destructive  in  Wilkinson  and  below,  that  half  a 
crop  will  not  be  made,  notwithstanding  the  fine  season  we  have 
had  for  picking.  The  level  lands  around  Bayou  Sara  have  suf- 
fered most.” 

1819'. — At  Natchez,  Mr.  Nuttall,  who  made  the  acquaintance 
of  Sami.  Postlethwaite,  a progressive  cotton  planter,  was  told  by 
him  that  “Cotton  which  constituted  the  staple  commodity  and 
wealth  of  the  country,  had,  like  all  other  crops,  a considerable 
tendency  to  impoverish  the  soil ; before  the  country  became  so 
well  settled  and  land  so  advanced  in  value,  no  method  of 
improving  the  worn  out  lands  \vas  ever  thought  of.  Such  fields 
were  then  left  waste,  and  new  lands  still  continually  cleared.  Of 
late  years  some  attention  had  been  paid  to  renovating  the  soil,  by 
plowing'  in  the  herb  of  cotton,  after  being  threshed  to  pieces 
as  it  stands  in  the  field.  A much  more  convenient  and  expedi- 
tious method,  however,  was  that  which  ]\Ir.  Postlethwaite  prac- 
ticed, who  employed  a loaded  harrow,  or  a roller  armed  with 
knives,  which  cut  the  plant  into  much  smaller  pieces.  The  seed, 
forming  three-fourths  of  the  crop  in  weight,  being  very  oleagi- 
nous, would  likewise  return  to  the  soil  a considerable  share  of 
nourishment,  as  appeared  by  the  experiment  of  applying  it  to 
maize,  which  thus  treated,  grew  as  luxuriantly  as  when  manured 
with  gypsum.  The  seed  of  the  cotton  also,  when  scalded,  and 
mixed  with  a little  salt,  formed  a nourishing  and  agreeable  food 
for  cattle." 


168 


MISSISSIPPI 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  Mississippi,  1S20-](S29 


Year 

Total  Crop 

1820-21 

4S„500 

1821-22 

64,721 

1822-2,3 

.50,000 

182.3-24 

76,104 

1824-25 

95,104 

Year 


Total  Crop 


I 1825-26 I 101,019 

1826- 27 i 04,108 

1827- 28 .S6.170 

1S28-29 91.000 

I 1829-80 121,345 


1820. — The  first  steamboat  that  ever  landed  at  Port  Gibson, 
the  “Thomas  Jefferson,”  arrived  there  March  5. 

1825. — Greater  damage  than  ever  known  was  caused  by  the 
caterpillar. 

For  the  first  time  the  crop  exceeded  100,000  bales. 

Niles’  Register  says  the  crop  of  Mississippi  this  year  turned 
out  well.  Much  aid  was  afforded  in  the  gathering  of  it  by  the 
Choctaw  Indians,  “who  were  paid  for  their  services.” 

1827.  — An  extensive  drought  greatly  injured  the  crop. 

A proposition  to  encourage  the  employment  of  slaves  in  the 
manufacturing  of  cotton  bagging,  cotton  cordage,  cotton  blankets, 
and  coarse  clothing  was  made  at  a public  meeting,  convened  for 
the  purpose,  at  Natchez  in  July.  About  this  time  there  was 
considerable  interest  manifested  in  this  subject  in  the  Southern 
States. 

A correspondent  of  the  American  Farmer,  writing  from 
Natchez,  on  the  subject  of  employing  slaves  in  manufacturing  in 
the  South  said : “The  most  important  and  valuable  of  all  cotton 
machines,  is  Whitney’s  saw-gin.  On  every  large  plantation  of 
the  slave  States,  this  is  managed  solely  by  slaves.  It  does  the 
work  of  nearly  1,000  ( ?)  men.  The  first  machine  of  this  kind  ever 
used  on  the  Mississippi,  was  built  almost  solely  by  a negro  black- 
smith, from  an  imperfect  drawing,  with  a few  explanations. 
Who,  then,  will  pretend  that  slaves  have  no  capacity  to  operate 
with  cotton  machinery?” 

1828.  — In  the  neighborhood  of  Natchez  it  was  calculated  that, 
on  “middling  soil,”  250  pounds  of  clean  cotton  was  the  average 
yield  per  a.nnum. 

A contributor  to  the  American  Farmer  said:  “I  observe  the 
planters, daily  hauling  corn  out  to  their  plantations  to  feed  their 
hands  and  stock.  It  comes  from  up  the  river  a considerable 


KING  COTTON 


169 


distance.  They,  I believe,  pay  attention  to  nothing  but  cotton, 
and  purchase  everything  else,  instead  of  raising  it.” 


Co.MMERCIAL  COTTON  CrOPS  OF  MISSISSIPPI,  1830-1840 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1S30-31  

141. .522 
120,905 
145.4.30 
215.237 
234,160 

1885-36 

255,620 

268,097 

.339,979 

230,917 

.532,871 

1831-32 

18d6-37 

18.32-3.3 

1837-38 

1833-34 . . 

1838-39 

1834-35 . . 

1889-40 

1830.  — At  this  date  there  were  213  steamboats  running  on  the 
Mississippi  river. 

Dr.  Rush  Nutt,  of  Petit  Gulf,  was  the  first  cotton  planter 
to  use  steam  in  ginning  cotton.  Mr.  Alexander,  of  Lake  Con- 
cordia, was  the  second  and  Job  Routh,  of  Lake  St.  Joseph,  the 
third.  Dr.  Nutt,  some  years  previous  to  1830,  improved  the 
saw-gin  by  attaching  long  flues  to  the  gin-stand  with  grated 
floors,  so  as  to  separate  the  dust  and  cut  fiber  or  waste  from 
marketable  cotton. 

1831.  — The  long  continued  wet  weather  caused  much  of  the 
cotton  to  rot.  A letter  from  Mississippi  to  Niles’  Register  stated 
that  there  had  been  nothing  Hke  it  since  1813-14. 

1832.  — A company  was  incorporated  in  March  to  establish  a 
cotton  factory  to  be  operated  by  slave  labor,  but  the  enterprise 
failed. 

About  this  time  cotton  planting  was  very  profitable.  In  a 
speech  in  the  House  of  Representatives  in  1832,  Henry  Clay  said : 
“A  friend  now  in  my  eye,  a member  of  this  body,  upon  a capital 
of  less  than  $70,000  invested  in  a plantation  and  slaves,  made  the 
year  before  last  $16,000.  A member  of  the  other  House,  I 
understand,  made  last  year,  about  20  per  cent.” 

1833.  — P>eginning  with  1833,  the  sale  of  public  lands  in 
Mississippi  for  four  years  amounted  to  7,240,438  acres.  The 
sales  each  3^ear  were  as  follows : 1833,  1,221,494 ; 1834,  1,064,054 ; 
1835,  2,931,181 ; 1836,  2,023,709  acres.  From  1833  to  1843  the 
total  sales  amounted  to  7,798,000  acres.  Meanwhile  the  cotton 
crops  increased  from  a little  over  215,000  bales  in  1833  to  553,000 
in  1844. 


170 


MISSISSIPPI 


The  cotton  exports  from  Mississippi  were  estimated  at  from 
200,000  to  225,000  bales.  The  shipments  down  the  Yazoo  river 
amounted  to  about  10,000  bales. 

The  crop  for  the  first  time  exceeded  200,000  bales. 

The  most  extensive  and  pretentious  of  the  four  cotton  seed 
oil  mills  in  operation  about  this  time,  was  the  one  at  Natchez. 
The  Journal  of  that  city  described  the  mill  “as  a substantial 
building  80  or  84  feet,  one  and  a half  stories ; comprising  a steam 
engine  of  22J4-inch  cylinder  and  five  feet  stroke,  driving  8 hul- 
ling machines,  five  sets  of  stones  and  a machine  to  prepare  and 
grind  the  kernel  for  heating,  eight  cylinders  for  heating  the  meal, 
a earn  and  seven  lever  presses  in  proportion.  The  Journal  boasted 
that  it  was  the  largest  mill  of  the  kind  in  the  Union  and  capable  of 
turning  out  from  1,000  to  2,000  gallons  of  oil  per  day.  The  oil 
produced  was  declared  to  be  among  the  best  of  paint  oils,  easily 
refined,  answering  as  the  ver}^  best  winter  strained  sperm  oil  for 
lamps — without  the  least  disagreeable  odor — and  useful  for 
woolens,  machinery,  etc.  Exclusive  of  the  oil  was  the  cake, 
which  made  the  very  best  cattle  food.” 

1834.  — The  shipments  of  cotton  from  Vicksburg  this  season 
were  estimated  at  50,000  bales. 

The  following  estimate  of  the  crop  of  Mississippi  for  the 
season  1834-35  was  made  by  a correspondent  of  the  Washington 
National  Intelligencer: — From  Ft.  Adams,  10,000  bales;  Natchez, 
55,000 ; Rodney,  12,000 ; Grand  Gulf,  55,000 ; Vicksburg,  45,000 ; 
Sartartia,  8,000;  Manchester,  15,000;  Tombigbee,  25,000;  other 
points,  25,000 ; total,  250,000  bales. 

1835.  — The  shipments  of  cotton  from  Vicksburg  were  70,000 
bales. 

Miller  & Lawes,  of  Washington  county,  obtained  a patent  for 
a cotton  seed  hulling  machine. 

Extensive  speculations  in  sales  of  cotton  lands. 

1836.  — -The  building  of  the  first  railroad  in  the  State  was 
begun  this  year. 

1837.  — Col.  H.  W.  Vick,  of  Vicksburg,  began  some  notable 
experiments  in  the  selection  and  improvement  of  cotton  seed. 
His  experim.ents  were  conducted  with  seed  then  known  as  the 
little  brown  or  drab  Petit  Gulf  Mexican.  In  1844  he  originated 


KING  COTTON 


171 


a variety  known  as  “One-Hundred  Seed”  which  became  quite 
popular,  also  the  Jethro  variety. 

Niles'  Register  said  the  ^vlississippians  were  making  great 
efforts  to  command  the  cotton  market.  The  Brandon  banks  of 
that  State  ^';ere  making  large  advances,  some  of  their  purchases 
being  as  high  as  13^  cents  for  cotton.  The  ultimate  object 
was  to  give  the  State  a commercial  position,  less  subordinate 
than  that  which  she  at  present  occupies  in  relation  to  New 
Orleans. 

During  the  season  1837-38,  11,787  bales  of  cotton  were 
shipped  from  Natchez  to  Liverpool,  Boston,  etc.  It  was  stated 
that  more  than  double  that  amount  would  have  been  shipped, 
had  there  been  facilities  for  compressing. 

1838.  — The  crop  was  injured  by  drought  and  the  boll-worm. 

1839.  — Of  the  56  counties  reported  in  the  Census,  all  raised 
more  or  less  cotton.  The  counties  of  largest  production  were : 
Warren,  Wilkinson,  Washington,  Madison  and  Jefferson. 

The  crop  this  year  for  the  first  time  exceeded  500,000  bales, 
which  placed  iMississippi  in  the  front  rank  as  the  largest  cotton 
producing  state  in  the  Union. 


Co.MMERCIAL  CoTTON  CrOPS  OF  MISSISSIPPI,  1840-1849 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1S40-41  

392,671 

395,761 

584,669 

473,300 

553,340 

1845-46 

566,265 

414,698 

524,718 

541,946 

484,291 

1S41-42 

1846-47 

1842-43 

1847-48 

1843-44 

1848-49 

1844-45 

1849-50 

1840. — About  this  period  the  wonderful  cotton  growing  quali- 
ties of  the  Mississippi  bottom  lands  began  to  be  appreciated,  and 
a great  migration  to  this  region  began.  It  is  said  that  250,000 
slaves  were  sent  into  that  country  in  a single  year — 1836. 

The  East  Indian  government  employed  ten  Mississippi  and 
Louisiana  planters,  at  a salary  of  $1,500  each,  to  go  to  India  and 
teach  the  Indian  planters  how  to  raise  cotton  after  the  American 
method. 

A long  drought  in  the  upland  counties  injured  the  crop. 


172 


MISSISSIPPI 


1843.  — Tlie  crop  was  damaged  by  long  continued  rains,  and 
also  by  the  cotton-worm. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  improved  plows,  cast  iron  mold 
boards,  shares  and  points,  began  to  be  introduced  among  planters ; 
but  Mr.  Phillips,  of  Hinds  county,  relates  the  exceeding  caution 
with  which  improved  implements  were  tried.  They  looked  with 
suspicion  upon  the  newly  “painted  plows.” 

1844.  — .A.  large  cotton  and  woolen  mill  was  erected  near 
Natchez  by  Messrs.  Robertson,  Osgood  and  Wells. 

A great  flood  on  the  Mississippi  and  its  tributaries  damaged 
the  growing  crop,  necessitating  much  replanting.  The  loss  in 
Bolivar  county  alone  was  placed  at  3(),UU0  bales.  The  cotton- 
worm  also  damaged  the  crop. 

1845.  — A New  Orleans  paper  of  this  date  said:  “We  under- 
stand that  fifty-one  bales  of  Nankin  cotton,  raised  by  Andrew 
Kerr,  Esq.,  of  Tunica  county.  Miss.,  was  sold  yesterday  by  the 
house  of  Ralph,  King  & Co.,  at  21^)  cents  per  pound.” 

There  was  a cotton  factory  operated  this  year  in  Adams 
county,  known  as  the  Adams  County  Cotton  Factory,  that 
employed  2C  men,  6 women  and  4 children,  all  black  slaves. 
In  answer  to  a circular  sent  out  by  the  Treasure  Department  it 
was  stated  that  the  hands  v.'ere  employed  300  days  during  the 
year  and  worked  8 hours  a day.  No  profits  were  reported. 

1846.  — As  to  the  importance  of  the  introduction  of  the  Mexi- 
can cotton  seed,  M.  W.  Phillips  said : “Those  planters  who 
remember  the  old  black  or  green  seed  varieties  of  cotton  grown 
some  twenty  years  ago,  or  longer,  can  fully  appreciate  the  advan- 
tage that  we  now  enjoy,  from  the  improved  or  Mexican  seed. 
We  have  only  to  call  to  mind,  that  the  old  description  of  cotton 
yielded  about  one-fourth  or  25  pounds  of  cotton  wool  to  the  100 
pounds  of  seed  cotton ; that  the  quantity  gathered  per  day  was 
at  least  one-fourth  less;  and  the  yield  per  acre  one  or  two  hun- 
dred pounds  less.  The  improved  seed  can  hardly  be  regarded 
as  of  less  importance  than  the  introduction  of  the  Whitney  gin.” 

One-third  of  the  cotton  crop  was  said  to  have  been  damaged 
this  year  b\'  the  caterpillar. 

Iron  hoops,  or  ties,  were  introduced  about  this  time.  R. 
Abbey,  who  lived  near  Yazoo  City,  said  only  two  things 


A COUNTRY  STEAM  GINNERY. 

Courtesy  of  W'oltT-Goldman  Mercantile  Co.,  Newport.  Ark. 


KING  COTTON 


173 


prevented  their  going  into  general  use ; the  determined  opposition 
of  all  the  cotton  interests  in  New  Orleans  and  Mobile,  and  the 
want  of  substantial  information  on  the  subject  by  the  planters. 
Several  patented  iron  screws  or  presses  were  introduced  at  this 
time,  though  the  wooden  screw  press  was  almost  universally  used. 

1847.  — Wet  weather  and  the  boll-worm  injured  the  crop  in 
some  parts  of  the  State. 

One  of  the  oldest  of  the  improved  varieties  of  cotton,  which 
was  in  general  use  at  this  time  and  which  is  the  parent  stock 
of  many  of  the  cluster  varieties  recently  used,  was  the  “Boyd 
Prolific.”  The  originator.  i\Ir.  Boyd,  said  that  it  was  from  a 
single  plant  found  in  a field  of  “common”  cotton. 

1848.  — Much  damage  was  reported  to  the  crop  by  boll-worm 
in  the  Natchez  district. 

The  jMexican  and  Brown  seed  were  the  varieties  most 
commonly  planted. 

The  freight  rate  on  cotton  on  the  Vicksburg  & Jackson  R.  R., 
46  miles,  v as  8714  cents  per  bale  of  400  pounds. 

A heavy  storm  in  September  injured  the  opening  cotton. 

1849.  — The  average  yield  of  seed  cotton  per  acre,  as  given 
by  the  Census,  was  700  pounds,  which  gave  the  State  the  second 
rank  in  production. 

The  Census  returns  gave  Marshall  county  the  largest  total 
production,  32,775  bales  of  400  pounds  each. 

iM.  W.  Phillips  of  Hinds  county,  in  writing  of  the  varieties 
of  seed  then  used,  gave  much  credit  to  Col.  H.  W.  Vick,  for 
his  patient  perseverance  in  improving  the  variety  bearing  his 
name,  the  result  of  which,  he  declared,  had  enhanced  the  value 
of  cotton  e.-^tates,  millions  of  dollars.  Some  of  the  best  seed  in 
his  judgment  were  Hogan’s,  the  Brown,  Sugar  Loaf,  and  “Vicks 
100  Seed.”  The  Mastodon  and  Okra  he  considered  “humbugs,” 
the  Banana  as  identical  with  Hogan’s,  and  the  Cluster  and  Pome- 
granate as  also  originating  from  Hogan  seed. 

The  young  cotton  plants  were  injured  by  frosts  about  the 
middle  of  April. 

Simeon  Oliver,  of  Blernando,  stated  that  the  average  yield 
per  acre  in  De  Soto  county  was  1,000  pounds  of  seed.  The 
Sugar  Loaf  Cluster  was  regarded  as  the  best  for  high  yield. 


174 


MISSISSIPPI 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
• Mississippi,  1S50-1S59 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1850-51 

Bales 

501,146 

Bales 

290 

No  data 

No  data 

1851-52 

613,200 

388 

do 

do 

1852-53 

670,062 

520 

do 

do 

1853-54 

603,132 

861 

do 

do 

1854-55 

592,430 

789 

do 

do 

1855-56 

700,969 

804 

do 

do 

1856-57 

606,811 

901 

do 

do 

1857-58 

598,900 

830 

do 

do 

1858-59 

897,108 

1,016 

do 

do 

1859-60 

1,202,507 

1,519 

6,344 

1850.  — In  a letter  to  the  Commissioner  of  Patents,  Mr. 
Graham,  of  Franklin  county,  gave  the  following  as  the  method 
of  planting  in  his  section  of  the  State.  “We  generally  plant 
about  half  and  half,  that  is^  one-half  corn,  and  the  other  half 
cotton.  The  number  of  acres  thus  planted  is  about  16  to  the 
hand,  8 acres  in  corn  and  8 in  cotton.  The  average  crop  per 
hand  is  about  200  bushels  of  corn,  and  about  5 bales  of  cotton. 
An  acre  of  cotton  produces  about  % of  a bale  of  400  pounds. 
We  get  13  cents  per  pounds  for  cotton,  or  $52  a bale.  The  cost 
of  getting  it  to  market  is  about  $2  a bale.  The  supplies  for 
hands  consists  of  meat,  for  which  we  pay  $13  per  barrel,  negro 
clothes,  sugar,  coffee,  etc.  The  cost  of  supporting  each  negro 
cannot  be  less  than  $35  per  annum.  Good  working  horses  were 
worth  $100,  and  Kentucky  mules  $120.” 

E.  Ford,  of  Clarion  county,  estimated  the  yield  per  acre  in 
his  county  at  400  pounds  on  bottom  lands,  and  on  uplands  from 
150  to  300  pounds ; and  the  cost  of  production  at  6 to  7 cents 
a pound. 

Some  of  the  favorite  varieties  of  seed  in  use  at  this  period, 
were : the  Sugar  Loaf,  Banana,  the  Brown,  Vick’s  100-seed,  Clus- 
ter, IMultitlora,  Money-bag,  Royal  Cluster,  and  Pomegranate. 

There  were  in  operation  this  year  75  miles  of  railway. 

1851.  — For  the  first  time  the  crop  exceeded  600,000  bales. 

.-V  new  style  of  gin  was  constructed  by  a Mr.  Parkhurst. 
Instead  of  saws,  cards  were  used  to  remove  the  lint  from  the 
seed;  it  was  then  blown  strongly  against  a close  wire  cylinder 
which  rer^olved  and  from  which  the  lint  was  taken  by  vibrating 


KING  COTTON 


17o 


or  revolving  rods,  coming  off  in  a solid  roll  of  batting  ready  for 
the  press.  It  also  cleaned  the  cotton  of  all  dust  and  trash. 

1852.  — In  a report  to  the  Commissioner  of  Patents,  a planter 
of  Marion  county  said  he  averaged  1,850  pounds  (seed  cotton) 
on  20  acres,  and  2,400  pounds  on  40  acres.  His  “head  picker” 
gathered  an  average  of  290  pounds  per  day. 

Much  damage  to  crops  in  this  and  the  following  year  from 
“black  rot.” 

1853.  — According  to  the  best  authorities  the  planters  enjoyed 
unexampled  prosperity  during  the  period  between  the  Mexican 
and  Civil  Wars.  Aberdeen  was  at  this  time  the  principal  con- 
centrating and  shipping  point  for  the  plantations  of  North 
Mississippi  and  Western  Alabama.  Reuben  Davis, says  he  has 
seen  boats  leave  the  wharf  at  Aberdeen  with  a cargo  of  2,500 
bales  of  cotton  destined  to  Mobile,  and  that  40,000  bales  were 
shipped  from  there  every  season. 

In  some  sections  of  the  State  the  crop  was  damaged  by  the 
caterpillar. 

1855.  — The  crop  for  the  first  time  exceeded  700,000  bales. 

1856.  — The  Mississippi  river  was  so  low  this  season  that  the 
packets  running  on  the  river  could  carry  only  small  cargoes  of 
cotton  to  New  Orleans. 

1857.  — The  Mississippi  & Tennessee  R.  R.,  now  the  Illinois 
Central,  from  Grenada  to  IMemphis  (99  miles),  was  chartered  in 
1852 ; construction  began  June,  1854,  and  the  line  was  opened  in 
June. 

Patents  were  obtained  by  R.  A.  Vick  and  T.  A.  Shannon  for 
cotton  cultivators. 

1858.  — The  Memphis  & Charleston  R.  R.,  now  operated  by 
the  Southern  Ry.,  from  IMemphis  to  Stevenson,  Ala.  (272  miles), 
was  chartered  February,  1846,  and  opened  for  through  traffic 
July  4. 

A hand-machine  for  gathering  cotton  was  patented  by  Hors- 
ford  and  Avery,  of  Macon. 

One  of  the  IMobile  papers  notices  the  receipt  of  some  cotton 
yarn,  spun  on  the  plantation  of  Geo.  S.  Yerger,  of  Miss.,  and 
manufactured  directly  from  the  seed  by  the  “Henry  process.” 


^ Mississippi  and  Mississippians. 


17^ 


MISSISSIPPI 


The  crop  for  the  first  time  exceeded  800,000  bales. 

1859. — The  Mobile  & Ohio  R.  R.,  from  Mobile  to  Columbus, 
Ky.  (472  miles),  which  traverses  almost  the  entire  length  of  the 
State  north  and  south,  was  chartered  in  1848-50,  and  opened  in 
September. 

Yazoo  county,  according  to  the  Census,  showed  the  highest 
total  production,  64,075  bales  of  400  pounds  each. 

Great  floods  on  the  Mississippi  river  and  its  tributaries  in 
the  Cotton  States.  The  flood  continued  seventy  days.  There 
were  35  crevasses  in  the  lower  Mississippi  and  the  flood  did 
not  s-ubside  until  the  last  of  May.  But  notwithstanding  this, 
planters  were  enabled  to  produce  good  crops  even  in  the  inun- 
dated lands  of  the  St.  Francis,  the  Tensas,  the  Yazoo,  the  Red 
and  White  rivers,  and  the  largest  crops  to  date  were  made  in 
that  year. 

Some  of  the  planters  producing  large  crops  of  cotton  at  this 
period  were:  Dr.  Stephen  Duncan,  more  than  3,000  bales;  Samuel 
Davis  and  Prancis  Surget,  from  3,000  to  5,000  bales  each,  and 
the  late  General  Wade  Hampton,  from  4,000  to  5,000  bales. 

For  the  first  time  the  crop  exceeded  a million  bales. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in- 
Mississippi.  18o0-18o9 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1860-61 

Bales 

859,285 

Bales 

1,737 

No  data 

No  data 

1861-62 

No  data 

No  data 

do 

do 

1862-63 

do 

do 

do 

do 

1863-64 

do 

Ho 

do 

do 

1864-65 

do 

do 

do 

do 

1865-66 

do 

do 

do 

do 

1866-67 

.306,389 

990 

do 

do 

1867-68 

314,177 

1,116 

do 

do 

1868-69 

411,494 

1 .oso 

do 

do 

1869-70 

.564,938 

1 .320 

5 

3, .526 

1860. — The  Vicksburg  & Meridian  R.  R.,  now  a part  of  the 
Queen  and  Crescent  system,  from  Vicksburg  to  Meridian  (140 
miles),  was  chartered  in  1835,  opened  from  Vicksburg  to  Jackson 
in  1841,  and  to  Meridian  during  this  year. 

There  were  862  miles  of  railway  in  operation. 

The  Chicago,  St.  Louis  & New  Orleans  R.  R.,  now  the 


KING  COTTON 


177 


Illinois  Central,  from  New  Orleans  to  East  Cairo  (547  miles), 
was  chartered  in  1852,  and  opened  from  New  Orleans  to  Canton, 
206  miles,  in  1859,  from  Canton,  Miss.,  to  Jackson,  Tenn.,  in 
1860,  and  extended  to  the  Ohio  river,  opposite  Cairo,  in  1875. 

1863.  — Writing  to  the  American  Agriculturist  in  regard  to 
the  possibilities  of  cotton  culture  at  this  time,  a correspondent 
said : "There  is,  however,  a field  opened  for  Northern  enterprise 
and  capital  upon  which  pioneers  have  entered  with  fair  promise 
of  success.  A large  part  of  the  country  along  both  banks  of  the 
jMississippi  river,  from  Memphis  to  New  Orleans  is  now  in  the 
hands  of  the  government,  having  been  abandoned  by  its  owners. 
Three  Commissioners  of  Plantations  have  been  appointed  to 
superintend  the  leasing-  of  these  lands  for  the  present  3-ear. 
The}'  meet  at  X’icksburg  every  few  weeks  to  decide  upon  appli- 
cations. The  following  conditions  are  required : For  the  use  of 
the  lands  the  occupant  engages  to  pay  the  government,  in  lieu 
of  rent,  a tax  of  $4  per  bale  of  cotton  raised  thereon,  and  5 cents 
per  bushel  of  corn  and  potatoes,  and  to  pay  one-half  the  value 
of  the  ungathered  crops  that  may  be  on  the  farm  at  the  period  of 
entering  upon  it.  The  lessee  was  to  employ  at  least  one  able- 
bodied  negro  to  8 acres  of  improved  land,  permitting  the  children 
of  the  employed  person  to  accompany  them  and  engage  to  feed  and 
clothe  them,  and  to  perm.it  the  children  to  attend  the  nearest 
school.  'I'he  wages  to  be  paid  the  hands  are  as  follows : $7 
per  month  to  able-bodied  males  over  15  years  of  age ; $5  per 
month  to  able-bodied  females  over  15  years  of  age ; and  for 
children  between  12  and  15  years  of  age,  half  price.  Applications 
are  to  be  made  to  the  Commissioners  in  writing,  accompanied 
by  proof  of  loyalty,  and  pecuniary  and  business  capacitv  to  carry 
on  a plantation.  Lessees  can  purchase  supplies  of  Quarter- 
masters at  militar}^  posts  within  the  cotton  region.  Those  who 
engaged  in  the  business  last  }"ear  are  said  to  have  made  mone}-.” 

1864.  — The  Peeler  variet}q  one  of  the  most  popular  now  in 
use,  originated  this  }^ear  in  W^arren  county. 

1866. — Caterpillars  destro}’ed  about  30  per  cent,  of  the  crop, 
and  were  particularly  destructive  in  the  river  counties. 

The  tax  on  cotton  collected  b\'  the  Federal  government 
amounted  to  $756,629 ; in  1867  to  $4,464,664,  and  in  1868  to 
$3,521,702. 


12 


178 


MISSISSIPPI 


1868.  — The  caterpillar  caused  some  loss  to  the  plantations 
in  the  river  counties. 

1869.  — There  were  in  the  State  3 cotton  mills  with  3,332 
spindles. 

The  Census  returns  gave  De  Soto  county  the  highest  total 
production,  12,500  bales. 

A planter  near  Columbus  set  his  cotton  plants  314  feet  apart 
each  way,  thinning  to  two  stalks  to  the  hill,  and  cultivating  as 
with  corn.  The  result  was  a yield  double  that  grown  in  the  old 
way. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
^Mississippi,  1870-1879 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1870-71 

Bales 

650.000 

Bales 

1 ,456 

No  data 

No  data 

1871-72 

495,000 

1,920 

do 

do 

1872-73 

625.000 

3,126 

do 

do 

1873-74 

575,000 

2,545 

11 

15,150 

1874-75 

550.000 

3,120 

No  data 

No  data 

1875-76 

670.000 

3,256 

do 

do 

1876-77 

760.000 

4,356 

do 

do 

1877-78 

775,000 

5,179 

do 

do 

1878-79 

748,952 

6,380 

do 

do 

1879-80 

963,111 

6,411 

8 

18,568 

1870. — On  November  15th,  161  hands  on  one  of  Gov.  Alcorn’s 
plantations  in  Coahoma  county,  picked  53,644  pounds  of  cotton, 
or  an  average  of  over  400  pounds  each.  Two  picked  over  1,100, 
two  over  900,  five  from  600  to  800,  ten  from  500  to  600, 
twenty-three  from  400  to  500,  and  forty-five  an  average  of  400. 
One-third  of  the  pickers  were  women. 

Prof.  Hillgard  (of  jMississippi)  made  the  suggestive  state- 
ment that  when  the  lint  only  of  the  cotton  crop  was  removed 
from  the  land,  it  takes  from  it  not  more  than  4 pounds  of  soil 
ingredients  for  each  bale  of  cotton  made : but  when  both  lint 
and  seed  were  permanently  removed  the  land  lost,  on  an  average, 
42  pounds  of  soil  ingredients  for  every  bale.  In  the  former  case 
the  cotton  crop  was  one  of  the  least  exhaustive  known ; in  the 
latter,  one  of  the  most  exhaustive. 

There  were  990  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this  year. 

The  New  Orleans  & Mobile  R.  R.,  now  the  Louisville  & 


KING  COTTON 


179 


Nashville,  iToni  Mobile  to  New  Orleans  (141  miles),  was  char- 
tered in  1866  and  completed  October  29. 

The  importance  of  using"  great  care  in  preparing  cotton  for 
market,  said  the  New  York  Commercial  and  Financial  Chronicle, 
was  well  illustrated  by  a single  bale  of  443  pounds,  which  was 
sold  the  past  week  at  50  cents  per  pound.  It  was  raised  by  W. 
B.  McShaw  on  his  plantation  in  Lee  county.  Miss.  After  being 
picked  it  was  taken  into  his  parlor,  where  it  was  carefully  cleaned 
of  seeds,  .sand,  leaf,  bark  and  other  impurities  by  Mrs.  and  Miss 
McShaw.  It  was  sent  to  the  Agricultural  Fair  at  St.  Louis  last 
October  (1870)  and  received  the  first  premium,  $500,  for  the 
best  bale  of  short  staple  cotton.  The  different  prizes  won  and 
prices  paid  for  this  bale  have  been  such  that  in  the  aggregate  an 
average  of  $7.50  has  been  realized  for  each  pound. 

1871.  — Excessive  rains  during  the  month  of  June  injured  the 
crop  in  the  lower  half  of  the  State. 

The  Alabama,  Great  Southern  R.  R.,  now  operated  by  the 
Southern  Ry.,  from  Meridian  to  Chattanooga  (296  miles),  was 
chartered  in  1853,  but  not  completed  until  May  this  year. 

1872.  — The  caterpillar  caused  considerable  damage  to  the  crop. 

Rain,  sleet  and  snow,  during  the  latter  part  of  the  picking 

season,  is  said  to  have  resulted  in  a loss  to  the  State  of  at  least 
100,000  bales  of  cotton. 

As  to  the  production  of  cotton  per  hand  the  New  York  Com- 
mercial and  Financial  Chronicle  gave  the  following  information : 
“The  cotton  lands  of  Mississippi,  Arkansas,  Louisiana  and  Red 
River  are  reported  to  us  as  sometimes  reaching  8 to  9 and  even 
10  bales  per  hand,  while  similar  land  in  Alabama  and  South- 
western Georgia  only  produces  4 to  6 bales,  and  the  upland  of 
Georgia,  Alabama  and  the  Carolinas,  only  2 to  3 bales.  In  the 
earlier  history  of  planting  the  average  for  these  States  was 
believed  to  be  5 bales  per  hand;  later,  and  before  the  Civil  War, 
opinion  had  settled  down  to  3 bales  or  1,500  pounds.  Since  the 
war  the  best  information  at  hand  showed  the  average  to  be 
about  1,200  pounds  to  the  hand ; the  average  for  all  States  being 
4 to  5 bales  per  hand.” 

1873.  — A Board  of  Trade  and  Cotton  Exchange  was  organ- 
ized at  Meridian,  August  8. 


180 


MISSISSIPPI 


The  damage  from  the  cotton-worm  was  greater  than  ever  this 
year.  A loss  of  20  per  cent,  was  reported  in  Wilkinson,  Jeffer- 
son, Claiborne,  Clark,  Warren,  Rankin,  Madison,  Washington, 
Lowndes,  Le  Flore,  Grenada,  Lee,  and  some  other  counties. 

1874.  — J.  H.  Mitchell  of  Friar’s  Point,  obtained  a patent  for 
a cotton-picking  machine  with  rotary  concave  and  convex  picking 
brushers  and  endless  apron. 

1875.  — Considerable  damage  was  done  to  the  growing  crop 
by  excessive  rains  and  floods  in  the  Mississippi  Valley. 

1876.  — The  crop  was  injured  this  year  by  worms,  drought, 
wet  weather  and  early  frosts.  The  worms  were  particularly 
destructive  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State. 

1878.  — The  crop  was  again  injured  by  the  cotton-worm. 

The  Natchez,  Jackson  & Columbus  R.  R.,  now  the  Illinois 

Central,  from  Natchez  to  Red  Lick  (34  miles),  was  chartered 
in  1870  and  completed  to  the  latter  point  in  February. 

1879.  — The  Department  of  Agriculture  estimated  the  loss 
from  cotton-w'orms,  from  1875  to  1878,  inclusive,  at  706,070 
bales. 

The  Census  returns  showed  that  Washington  county  pro- 
duced the  largest  crop,  54,873  bales,  and  that  Issaquena  county 
produced  the  highest  yield  per  acre,  .88  of  a bale. 

There  were  eleven  cotton  oil  mills  in  the  State. 

This  year  witnessed  quite  an  exodus  of  negroes  from  the 
Mississippi  Valley  to  Kansas. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Mississippi,  1880-1889 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1880-81 

Bales 

869.555 

Bales 

7.763 

No  data 

No  data 

1881-82 

895,000 

9,902 

do 

do 

1882-8.3 

1,064,000 

10,798 

do 

do 

1883-84 

901, .300 

11,7.30 

do 

do 

1884-8.5 

883,200 

10,902 

do 

do 

188.5-86 

1,019,470 

13,144 

do 

do 

1886-87 

9.35,390 

13,723 

7 

.39,748 

1887-88 

1,062,797 

14,705 

8 

41,956 

1888-89 

1,057,746 

15,718 

9 

49,600 

1889-90 

1.154,725 

17,366 

9 

57.004 

1880. — There  were  1,127  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this 
year. 


KING  COTTON 


18] 


Some  damage  to  the  crop  in  the  fall  months  resulted  from 
excessive  rains. 

1881.  — dhe  boll-worm,  as  estimated  by  the  Department  of 
Agriculture,  destroyed  38,111  bales  of  cotton. 

The  $1,000  premium  for  the  best  bale  of  cotton  grown  in  the 
United  States  was  awarded  by  the  Atlanta  Cotton  Exposition  to 
Thomas  Compton,  a planter  living  near  Batesville,  Panola  county. 

1882.  — There  was  a disastrous  overflow  in  the  Mississippi 
river  districts  this  year. 

The  Natchez,  Jackson  & Columbus  R.  R.,  now  the  Illinois 
Central,  from  Natchez  to  Jackson  (100  miles),  was  chartered 
in  1870,  opened  to  i\Iartin  in  1879,  to  INIyles  in  1881  and  to 
Jackson,  October  6. 

1883.  — At  this  time  there  were  24  cotton  oil  mills  in  operation. 

The  New  Orleans  & North  Eastern  R.  R.,  now  a part  of  the 

Queen  and  Crescent  system,  from  jMeridian  to  New  Orleans  (196 
miles),  was  chartered  in  1870,  and  completed  to  New  Orleans 
November  1. 

1884.  — The  Louisville,  New  Orleans  & Texas  Ry.,  now  the 
Yazoo  & ^Mississippi  Valley  R.  R.,  from  New  Orleans  to 
Memphis  (455  miles),  which  parallels  the  Mississippi  river,  was 
constructed  as  follows : On  May  1,  1884,  the  track  had  been 
extended  from  New  Orleans  north  140  miles;  from  Vicksburg 
south  46  miles  and  north  90  miles,  and  from  Memphis  south 
98  miles,  leaving  two  gaps  of  78  miles,  which  were  completed 
in  October,  1884,  and  the  entire  line  opened  November  1,  1884. 
The  Leland  branch  was  completed  in  1885  and  other  important 
branches  in  1889. 

In  spite  of  the  increased  acreage  the  cotton  yield  was  lowered 
this  year  on  account  of  the  damage  done  by  the  boll-worm.  In 
1885  the  cotton-worms  and  boll-worms  appeared  in  some  locali- 
ties in  the  southern  part  of  the  State.  Attalla,  Copiah,  Holmes 
and  Madison  counties,  suffered  severe  losses  in  1889  from  the 
ravages  of  the  boll-worm. 

1886. — A Cotton  Exchange  at  Vicksburg  was  incorporated 
June  29,  though  the  Exchange  was  organized  some  years  prior 
to  that  date. 

A Cotton  and  Merchants  Exchange  was  organized  at  Natchez 
in  July. 


182 


MISSISSIPPI 


With  a machine  invented  and  patented  by  C.  E.  Wright,  of 
Vicksburg,  it  was  proposed  to  cut  down  the  cotton  stalk,  break, 
disintegrate  and  separate  the  branches,  twigs  and  bolls  from 
each  other,  and  deliver  them  to  a receiver  forming  a part  of 
and  moving  with  the  harvester,  from  which  receiver  they  would 
be  removed  to  be  further  separated  and  ginned. 

1887.  — The  Kansas  City,  Memphis  & Birmingham  R.  R.,  now 
the  St.  Louis  & San  Francisco  Ry.,  from  Memphis  to  Birming- 
ham (251  mules),  was  completed  in  October,  1887,  and  its  Aber- 
deen branch  in  1888. 

1888.  — A Cotton  Exchange  was  organized  at  Greenville  this 
year. 

1889.  — Washington  county  returns  to  the  Census  showed  the 
largest  area  in  cotton,  and  also  the  largest  total  production,  viz; 
128,571  acres,  and  87,022  bales. 

The  Georgia  Pacific  R R.,  now  the  Southern  Ry.,  from 
Columbus  to  Greenville  (168  miles),  began  building  from  Colum- 
bus westward  in  July,  1887,  and  was  completed  July  1. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Mississippi,  1890-1899 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

Bales 

Bales 

1890-91 

1,209.000 

15,907 

8 

51,620 

1891-92 

1,250,000 

1,5,122 

7 

51,936 

1892-9.3 

755,000 

16  .310 

7 

.52,648 

189.3-94 

1,050,000 

14,469 

7 

46,217 

1894-95 

1,231,227 

15,757 

7 

.5.5,393 

1895-96 

1,0 13, .358 

16,6.54 

8 

61,448 

1896-97 

1,201,000 

16,863 

7 

64,148 

1897-98 

1,. 524, 771 

20, .508 

7 

6.3,004 

1898-99 

1,247.128 

21,6.50 

7 

66.432 

1899-00 

1.264,048 

21,440 

10 

88,584 

1890.  — There  were  2,471  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this 
year. 

The  crop  was  injured  by  the  boll-worm.  Lawrence,  Noxubee 
and  Scott  counties  were  the  centers  of  the  greatest  damage. 

1891.  — Forty-six  varieties  of  cotton  were  planted  at  the 
State  Experiment  Station,  which  yielded  an  average  of  79'6 
pounds  of  seed-cotton  and  254  pounds  of  lint  per  acre.  The 
largest  yield  of  seed-cotton  per  acre,  1,370  pounds,  was  from 


KING  COTTON 


183 


Texas  Storm  Proof,  which  also  gave  the  largest  yield  of  lint, 
488  pounds.  The  largest  per  cent,  of  lint  was  from  Peterkin. 
The  six  varieties  giving  the  highest  total  values  per  acre  were; 
Eureka,  $36.66;  Texas  Storm  Proof,  $35.81;  Allen,  $34.43; 
Drake’s  Cluster,  $30.09 ; Bailey,  $29.29 ; Willis,  $27.30. 

A Cotton  Exchange  was  organized  at  Yazoo  City,  July  7. 

1892.  — The  Tombigbee  Cotton  Mills  at  Columbus  reported 
net  earning.s  for  the  year  of  18  per  cent. 

The  crop  was  damaged  in  the  Mississippi  river  districts  by 
early  spring  overflows,  which  were  followed  in  the  summer  by 
a disastrous  drought. 

1893.  — The  following  is  from  a statement  prepared  for  the 
United  States  Senate  Committee  on  Agriculture  by  Gen.  Stephen 
D.  Lee,  President  of  the  State  Agricultural  College : — “The 
actual,  financial  and  material  condition  of  the  cotton-raisers  is 
bad.  They  are  generally  in  debt,  and  many  of  them  are  insolvent. 
Those  insolvent  are  in  the  ratio  of  two  and  three  to  one  in  the 
present  depressed  condition  of  the  price  of  land,  the  price  being 
merely  nominal  with  no  purchasers.  The  solvent  planters  are 
those  who  raise  their  own  supplies,  and  regard  the  cotton  crop 
as  a surplus.  The  solvent  planters  are  the  white  men  who  live 
in  the  piney  woods  or  sandy  land  and  do  their  own  labor  and 
raise  their  own  supplies,  and  have  few  negroes  about  them,  while 
the  depression  or  insolvency  is  almost  general  on  the  richer  or 
black  lands,  worked  almost  exclusively  by  negroes  under  the 
plantation  system.” 

1894.  — “The  concurrent  testimony  of  farmers  and  others,”  says 
Dr.  Otken^  (of  Summit,  Miss.),  “that  the  value  of  the  work 
of  negroes  on  the  farm,  as  compared  with  the  same  kind  of 
work  done  in  slave  time  under  humane  masters,  and  that 
work  under  no  effective  supervision  today,  may  be  thus 
expressed:  the  value  of  the  work  done  by  the  old  slave  negroes 
is  50  per  cent,  of  what  it  was  in  olden  times ; that  of  the 
younger  negro  men,  30  per  cent. ; and  that  of  the  colored  females, 
20  per  cent.” 

1895.  — On  account  of  the  very  low  price  of  cotton  a conven- 
tion of  cotton  planters  was  held  at  Jackson,  January  11.  to  effect 


1 Ills  of  the  South. 


184 


MISSISSIPPI 


a reduction  in  cotton  acreage,  which,  according  to  the  estimate 
of  the  Department  of  Agriculture  resulted  in  a reduction  of 
3,503,000  acres  as  compared  with  the  previous  year,  1904. 

1896.  — The  Department  of  Agriculture  ascertained  the  aver- 
age cost  of  cotton  production  this  year  to  be  5.36  cents  per 
pound. 

1897.  — The  Gulf  & Ship  Island  R.  R.,  from  Gulfport  to  Hat- 
tiesburg (70  miles),  was  opened  in  January. 

Andrew  Fleming,  of  Natchez,  sent  to  a New  York  cotton 
house  a .sample  of  a bale  of  cotton  that  was  grown  in  1859. 
The  Classification  Committee  of  the  New  York  Exchange  classed 
it  as  good  middling  and  good  body  and  staple.  It  was  said  to 
possess  just  as  good  working  qualities  as  newly  grown  cotton. 

The  largest  crop  in  the  history  of  the  State,  to  date,  1,524,771 
bales,  was  {)roduced  this  year. 

The  greatest  flood  ever  known  to  cotton  planters  in  the 
Delta.  The  Mississippi  rose  in  April  and  May  from  half  a foot 
to  two  and  a half  feet  higher  than  ever  before,  and  inundated 
all  the  river  counties.  All  of  the  rich  bottom  lands  lying 
between  the  Mississippi  and  the  Yazoo  rivers,  extending  from 
the  northern  boundary  of  the  State  south  to  Vicksburg,  and 
comprising  nearly  2,000,000  acres  of  farm  lands,  of  which  about 
one-third  was  devoted  to  cotton,  were  overflowed. 

1899. — There  were  186,995'  farmers  engaged  during  this  year 
in  the  cultivation  of  cotton.  The  area  planted  was  2,897,920 
acres,  which  produced  643,339,470  pounds  of  lint  cotton,  or  an 
average  of  222  pounds  to  the  acre.  The  following  counties, 
ranking  in  the  order  named,  planted  the  largest  area : Yazoo, 
Washington,  Hinds,  Bolivar,  Noxubee,  Holmes,  IMonroe  and 
Panola. 

The  24  varieties  of  cotton  planted  at  the  State  Experiment 
Station  yielded  an  average  of  933.5  pounds  of  seed  cotton  and 
311.4  pounds  of  lint  per  acre.  The  largest  yield  of  seed  cotton, 
1,312  pounds  was  Roby’s  Prolific,  which  also  gave  the  largest 
yield  of  lint,  451.3  pounds.  The  six  varieties  giving  the  highest 
total  values  per  acre  were : Roby's  Prolific,  $41.66 ; Hawkins 
Jumbo.  $41.31;  Smith’s  Improved,  $40.22;  Ozier’s  Big  Boll, 
$39.26 ; Kiiig’s  Improved,  $38.52 ; and  Kemper  Cotton  Co., 
$37.54. 


KING  COTTON 


18.5 


There  were  in  operation  this  year,  according  to  the  Census, 
3,976  cotton  gins;  in  1900  there  were  3,934  and  in  1901,  4,145. 
The  average  output  of  each  gin  for  each  season  was,  respectively, 
318,  and  268,  and  308  bales.  The  cost  of  ginning  and  baling 
square  and  round  bales  in  1899  was,  respectively,  $1.78  and  $1.14 
per  bale. 

There  were  2,787i/o  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this  year. 

W'ashington  county  reported  to  the  Census  the  highest  total 
production,  64,551  bales. 


CoMMERci.\L  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Mississippi,  1900-1908 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consump'iion 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spinrlles 

1900-01 

Bales 

1,055  968 

Bales 

24.424 

14 

118..320 

1901-02 

1,275,439 

.32,618 

16 

1.30,346 

1902-0.3 

1,451,626 

.34,050 

17 

1.39.192 

1903-04 

1.4.39,294 

.35.148 

20 

151,544 

1904-05 

1,774,789 

.35,5.34 

22 

153,888 

1905-06 

1.168,0.59 

43,637 

90 

162.864 

1906-07 

1,483,408 

40,095 

21 

175.272 

1907-08 

1,442,881 

40,837 

20 

177,124 

1900.  — A patent  was  obtained  by  William  Warmack,  of 
Pluto,  for  a cotton-picker  constructed  with  vertically-aligned  rows 
of  reciprocating  picker  stems  operating  in  a frame  with  roller 
brushes. 

There  were  in  operation  this  year  forty-one  cotton  oil  mills 
that  consumed  394,678  tons  of  seed  valued  at  $4,577,995.  Of 
the  seed  produced  in  the  State  63.8  per  cent,  was  manufactured 
into  oil  products  valued  at  $6,671,001. 

1901.  — The  Delta  was  the  only  section  of  the  State  where  it 
was  the  general  custom  to  pay  cash  wages  for  the  cultivation  of 
cotton. 

Five  cotton-picking  machines,  constructed  by  the  American 
Cotton  Picking  Company,  of  Pittsburg,  were  shipped  to  Green- 
ville for  practical  field  tests.  One  of  the  machines,  run  by 
gasoline,  was  operated  on  the  Urquhart  plantation  near 
Wilczinski  (Washington  Co.)  and  it  was  estimated  picked  from 
80  to  85  per  cent,  of  the  cotton  on  the  stalk. 

The  Cotton  Ginners  Journal  noted  that  the  cotton  ginning 


186 


MISSISSIPPI 


business  was  undergoing  significant  changes.  Most  important 
of  these  was  the  practice  of  buying  cotton  in  the  seed.  It  made 
the  ginner  an  operator  on  a broader  scale.  He  was  a buyer  and 
a seller  of  cotton,  a warehouseman  as  well  as  a ginner,  and 
inevitably,  too,  it  made  him  a “speculator.” 

1903.  — The  stocks  at  interior  towns  at  the  close  of  the  season, 
August  31,  were  the  smallest  for  many  years,  amounting  to  less 
than  2,000  bales. 

1904.  — The  scarcity  of  negro  laborers  induced  Capt.  Eldridge, 
of  Hillhouse,  who  expected  an  unprecedented  yield  of  6,000  bales 
on  his  plantation,  to  make  a contract  in  Texas  for  150  Mexicans 
to  pick  his  crops. 

1906.  — A lot  of  350  bales  of  long  staple  cotton  was  sold  at 
Port  Gibson  (November  30)  for  23  and  24  cents  per  pound. 

A terrific  storm  on  the  27th  and  28th  of  September  passed  over 
almost  the  entire  State  causing  great  damage  to  the  crops. 
Many  millions  of  pounds  of  cotton  were  damaged  and  lost. 

1907.  — The  first  new  bale  of  cotton  raised  in  Washington 
county  was  received  at  Greenville  on  August  31. 

The  Mexican  boll-weevil  crossed  the  Mississippi  river  from 
Louisiana,  and  made  its  first  appearance  in  the  State  in  Adams 
and  Wilkinson  counties. 

A negro  planter  marketed  at  Greenwood,  in  December,  one  of 
two  bales  of  long  staple  cotton  grown  on  one  acre  of  land,  for 
which  he  received  $138,  or  about  26  cents  per  pound. 

A stock  company  with  a capital  of  $250,000  was  organized  in 
March,  for  the  purpose  of  handling  and  marketing  the  long 
staple  cotton  of  the  Delta. 

In  pursuance  of  a resolution  of  the  Farmers’  Union  pledging 
the  members  to  use  cotton  bagging  in  preparing  the  crop  of 
1907  for  market,  arrangements  were  made  with  the  Wesson 
cotton  mills  to  manufacture  all  the  bagging  needed. 

The  Gilruth  Co.,  of  Yazoo  City,  own  a number  of  plantations 
in  Yazoo,  Holmes  and  Sunflower  counties  from  which  they 
market  annually  about  5,000  bales  of  cotton.  They  work  over 
500  mules,  and  employ  more  than  1,200  negroes. 

The  best  grades  of  cotton  sold  as  high  as  19  cents  per  pound 
at  Vicksburg. 


KING  COTTON 


187 


According  to  the  Census  there  were  3,5-11  cotton  gins  in 
operation,  the  average  output  of  each  gin  being  108  bales. 

There  were  92  cotton  oil  mills  in  the  State  that  consumed 
315,509  tons  of  seed,  costing  $5,355,390.  The  value  of  the  prod- 
ucts, including  linters,  was  $9,018,803. 

Several  Mississippi  plantations  were  visited  by  a committee 
of  English  spinners,  having  in  view  the  purchase  of  cotton  lands 
in  the  South  and  the  raising  of  cotton  for  mill  supplies.  The 
committee  having  the  matter  in  charge,  in  a circular  letter  stated 
that  the  purchase  of  a plantation  in  this  country,  “would  afford, 
when  improved  machinery  was  introduced,  a most  valuable 
demonstration  to  the  American  planter  of  the  great  economies 
it  is  possible  to  effect  in  the  ginning  and  baling  of  their  valuable 
product.’’  An  effort  was  made  to  raise  the  money  to  carry  out 
the  plan,  but  meeting  with  little  encouragement,  the  undertaking 
was  abandoned. 

1908. — The  Legislature  passed  an  act  prohibiting  all  dealings 
in  any  commodity  for  future  delivery,  imposing  a heav}-  fine 
and  imprisonment  for  its  violation. 


CHxVPTER  IX 


Louisiana,  and  its  Cotton  Crops  from  1800  to  1908 — Num- 
ber OF  Cotton  Mills  and  Spindles  and  Domestic  Con- 
sumption OF  Cotton — Historical  Data  Relating  to 
Cotton  Production. 

In  a memoir  addressed  to  Count  de  Poncliartrain,  December, 
1697,  on  the  importance  of  establishing  a colony  in  Louisiana, 
by  M.  de  Remonville,  he  says,  after  describing  the  natural  pro- 
ductions of  the  country : “Such  are  some  of  the  advantages 
which  may  be  reasonably  expected,  without  counting  those  result- 
ing from  every  day’s  experience.  We  might,  for  example,  try 
the  experiment  of  cultivating  fine  and  long  staple  cotton.’’ 

Among  the  Colonial  Archives  at  Paris  there  is  a memorial 
from  the  Colonial  government  of  Louisiana,  which  appears  to 
have  been  drawn  up  by  M.  St.  Denis  in  1723,  stating  that  the 
country  about  Natchitoches  is  favorable  to  all  the  agricultural 
products  of  Europe,  and  to  cotton  and  tobacco.  There  is  also 
another  paper,  bearing  no  date,  drawn  up  in  Versailles,  which 
sets  forth  the  project  of  colonization  for  Louisiana,  and  the 
demand  for  a large  tract  of  land  on  condition  of  its  being 
cultivated  in  tobacco,  cotton,  sugar,  indigo  and  cane. 

The  Louisiana  colony,  says  Pickett,^  was  in  a flourishing 
condition  in  1728,  “its  fields  being  cultivated,  by  more  than  2,000 
slaves,  in  cotton,  indigo,  tobacco,  and  grain’’ ; and  in  1736,  Gov- 
ernor Bienville  describing  the  condition  of  the  colony  at  that 
time,  said ; “The  planters  are  disgusted  with  the  cultivation  of 
tobacco  on  account  of  the  uncertainty  of  the  crop.  * * * With 
regard  to  cotton,  the  production  is  very  limited  on  account  of 
the  difficulty  of  separating  it  from  the  seeds,  or  rather  because 
the  cultivation  of  indigo  is  more  favorable.” 

M.  Michel,  in  a report  to  the  French  minister  on  the  condition 
of  the  country  in  1752,  gave  some  interesting  details  on  the 


1 History  of  Alabama,  Vol.  1. 


188 


KING  COTTON 


189 


cultivation  of  cotton,  and  the  difficulties  experienced  in  separating 
the  wool  from  the  seed.  About  this  time  a French  planter  of 
enterprise  and  capital,  M.  Dubreuill  (who  a few  years  afterward 
erected  on  his  plantation  now  covered  by  the  lower  portion  of 
the  citv  of  New  Orleans,  the  first  sugar  mill  in  Louisiana) 
invented  a cotton  gin  which  greatly  stimulated  the  culture  of 
cotton  in  the  colony. 

In  1758  white  Siam  seed  were  introduced  into  Louisiana. 
Du  Pratz  says : “This  East  India  plant  has  been  found  to  be 
much  better  and  whiter  than  what  is  cultivated  in  our  colonies, 
which  is  of  the  Turkey  kind.”^ 

Among  the  French  Archives  at  Paris  there  is  a most  curious 
and  instructive  report  on  cotton  in  1760."  It  was  found  to  be  a 
very  profitable  crop  in  Louisiana,  for  in  the  year  1768  the  French 
planters,  in  a memorial  to  their  government,  complained  that  they 
had  been  turned  over  to  the  Spaniards  just  “at  the  time  when  a 
new  mine  had  been  discovered ; when  the  culture  of  cotton, 
improved  by  experience,  promises  the  planter  a recompense  of 
his  toils,  and  furnishes  persons  engaged  in  fitting  out  vessels  with 
cargoes  to  load  them.”® 

In  1800  the  cotton  crop  of  Louisiana  was  3,000  bales,  and  ten 
years  afterward,  8,000.  In  the  decade  1810-1820,  it  increased 
to  52,000  bales.  During  the  decade  1820-1830,  the  increase  was 
from  54,000  to  139,000  bales,  and  the  decade  1830-1840,  from 

89.000  to  411,000  bales.  The  largest  crop  in  the  next  decade, 
1840-1850,  was  468,000  bales,  and  the  largest  made  prior  to  the 
Civil  War  was  778,000  bales,  in  1859. 

The  first  crop  after  the  war  amounted  to  165,000  bales,  which 
was  just  about  equal  to  that  of  1835.  Four  years  later  the  crop 
more  than  doubled.  In  the  decade  1870-1880,  it  varied  from 

396.000  to  650,000  bales,  and  in  the  next  decade  1880-1890,  from 

359.00  to  659,000  bales.  The  following  decade  the  highest  pro- 
duction was  788,000  bales,  and  in  1904  the  largest  crop  in  the 
history  of  the  State  was  made,  1,109,000  bales. 

The  area  planted  in  cotton  in  1879,  according  to  the  Census, 
was  865,000  acres,  and  in  1906  the  Department  of  Agriculture 


^ The  History  of  Louisiana,  Le  Page  Du  Pratz;  1758. 
2 De  Bow’s  Review;  Vol.  1. 

® Louisiana  Historical  Collections. 


190 


LOUISIANA 


estimated  it  to  be  1,778,000.  showing  an  increase  since  1879  of 
913,000  acres,  or  about  106  per  cent.  The  production  in  1879 
was  508,000,  and  in  1906  977,000  bales,  an  increase  during  the 
same  period  of  469,000  bales  or  about  92  per  cent.  According 
to  this  showing,  the  increase  in  the  area  planted  since  1879,  is 
greater  by  13  per  cent,  than  the  increase  in  production. 


Co.M.MERCiAL  Cotton  Crops  of  Louisi.ana,  1800-1809 


Year 

Total  Crop 

1800-01 

3,000 

1801-02 

3,500 

1802-03 

5.000 

1803-04 

4.741 

1804-05 

6,000 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1805-06 

7,000 

1806-07 

4 500 

1807-08 

5,239 

1808-09 

7,800 

1809-10 

8,000 

1800.  — The  first  cotton  planted  in  the  Ouachita  region,  was 
in  1800,  and  the  first  gin  was  built  in  1801-02,  The  quantity 
exported  did  not  exceed  from  100  to  500  bales  until  1809  or 
1810. 

1801.  — French  planters  emigrating  from  the  French  West 
Indies  are  said  to  be  responsible  for  the  introduction  of  the 
cotton-worm  into  Louisiana  about  1801  or  1802. 

1804. — “In  1804  the  cotton-worm  made  one  of  its  widest  and 
most  devastating  invasions,”  says  Dr.  Phares  in  a lecture  before 
the  Woodville  Farmers’  Club.  It  was  on  this  occasion  that 
Father  St.  Pierre  was  most  earnestly  entreated,  by  his  parish- 
ioners of  Louisiana,  to  furnish  holy  water  with  which  to  repel 
“les  Chinelles.” 

On  November  23,  cotton  was  worth  17  to  18  cents.  On  July 
the  5th,  1805,  it  was  worth  23  to  24  cents'  and  very  scarce. 

1806. — The  Louisiana  Gazette  (New  Orleans),  referring  to 
the  wealth  of  Louisiana  said  an  acre  of  cotton  land  would  produce 
250  pounds  of  cotton,  at  20  cents,  $50,  or  $200  to  the  negro  culti- 
vating 4 acres. 

1809. — Cotton  was  one  of  the  staple  commodities  of  the 
Opelousas  district  (now  St.  Landry  parish  and  a portion  of 
AvoyellesL  Cotton  was  also  the  principal  crop  of  the  planters 
who  had  settled  on  the  Red  river. 


KING  COTTON 


101 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  Louisiana,  1810-1819 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1810-11 

6,220 

1815-16 

35,557 

1811-12 

7,135 

1816-17 

35,000 

1 2-1 

10,160 

15.221 

20,021 

1817-18 - • 

39,212 

lSlJH-14. 

1818-19 • . 

52,000 

1814-15 

181b-20 

48,000 

1812. — The  Spanish  settlements  on  the  La  Fourche,  consisting 
of  200  families,  cultivated  rice,  cotton,  corn  and  flax. 

Louisiana  was  admitted  into  the  Union  April  30th,  and  that 
part  of  West  Florida  west  of  the  Pearl  river,  was  added  to  its 
territory. 

1814. — Mr.  W^infree,  in  De  Bow’s  Review,  said  that  in  1814, 
or  thereabouts,  the  caterpillar  ate  the  cotton  down  to  the  ground 
in  Iberville  parish  during  the  month  of  June. 

1816. — Joseph  Vidal,  of  Concordia  parish,  on  August  12 
shipped  a bale  of  new  cotton  to  New  Orleans.  It  weighed  360 
pounds  and  was  of  such  superior  quality  that  an  offer  of  36  cents 
per  pound  was  made  for  it. 

1818.  — At  this  period  there  were  18  steamboats  engaged  in 
the  river  trade  to  and  from  New  Orleans. 

1819.  — General  Wade  Hampton,  who  owned  upwards  of  400 
slaves,  raised  in  one  season  500  hogsheads  of  sugar  and  1,000 
bales  of  cotton,  then  collectively  worth  upwards  of  $150,000. 
General  Hampton’s  great  plantation  was  about  70  miles  up  the 
river  from  New  Orleans  at  Ouma  Point. 


CO.MMERCIAL  CoTTON  CrOPS  OF  LOUISIANA,  1820-1829 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1820-21 

1821-22 

54.500 
69,221  , 
55.000 
80,159 
101,133 

1825- 26 

1826- 27 

138,777 
121,795 
100,748 
95,000 
106,207  ■ 

1822-23 

1827-28 

1823-24 

1828-29 

1824-25 

1829-.30 

1820. — The  American  Farmer  said:  “It  appears  from 
respectable  oral  information  that  a species  of  cotton,  till  lately 
unknown  to  us,  has  been  introduced  into  Louisiana.  It  is  called 
the  Mexican  cotton.  It  is  found  to  ripen  in  a greater  degree 


192 


LOUISIANA 


at  one  time,  has  a shorter  season  than  any  other  variety,  and  is 
collected  in  much  greater  quantities  by  a laborer  in  one  day.  The 
cotton  wool  is  represented  to  hang  out  of  the  pods  and  even  drop 
at  times  from  them."  This  no  doubt  referred  to  the  Mexican 
cotton,  said  to  have  been  first  introduced  by  Dr.  Rush  Nutt  of 
Petit  Gulf,  or  Walter  Burling,  of  Natchez,  Miss.  (See  Miss, 
notes,  1806.) 

1822.  — Since  the  introduption  of  the  first  steamboat  on  the 
Mississippi  river  (1811),  89  steamboats  were  enrolled  at  New 
Orleans  with  a tonnage  of  18,000  tons.  The  Arkansas  river 
had  already  been  several  times  ascended  by  a steamboat,  more 
than  500  miles  from  the  Mississippi. 

1823.  — During  the  week  ended  September  27,  the  crop  in 
Louisiana  was  reported  to  be  greatly  damaged  by  high  winds  and 
excessive  ruins.  It  was  said  that  the  crop  would  be  cut  off  at 
least  one-third. 

An  overflow  covered  a large  area,  and  on  July  5,  the  greater 
portion  of  the  cotton  fields  in  Concordia  and  Ouachita  parishes 
was  under  water,  entailing  a loss  of  some  30,000  bales  of  cotton. 

1824.  — i'or  the  first  time  the  crop  exceeded  100,000  bales. 

1825.  — In  New  Orleans  cotton  sold  for  23  to  25  cents  a 
pound. 

The  destruction  of  the  crop  by  the  caterpillar  was  the  worst 
ever  known.  It  was  said  to  be  general  in  extent,  embracing  all 
the  cotton  States. 

A New  Orleans  cotton  house  failed  for  .$1,225,000,  due  to 
speculations  in  cotton. 

A very  remarkable  state  of  affairs  occurred  in  New  Orleans 
in  the  fall  of  this  year,  when  the  purchase  of  cotton  for  eleven 
weeks  was  almost  totally  suspended.  The  Commercial  Intelli- 
gencer of  that  city,  November  5,  said  in  its  market  report; 
“After  an  entire  suspension  of  sales  for  eleven  weeks,  hearing 
of  a few  transactions  since  our  last,  we  made  more  inquiry 
than  usual,  and  found  that  there  had  been  sold  in  all  173  bales 
of  Louisiana  and  Mississippi  cotton,  of  common  and  good  cpiality, 
at  15,  151/2.  16,  161/0,  17  and  17%  cents.” 

1827. — An  unprecedented  drought  seriously  damaged  the 
crop. 


KING  COTTON 


193 


1828.  — The  kinds  of  cotton  chiefly  cultivated  were  the  green 
seed  or  Tennessee,  and  the  Mexican.  The  green  seed  did  not 
have  so  fmc  a staple  but  was  less  subject  to  rot.  The  Mexican 
was  of  a finer  staple,  yielded  more  abundantly  and  had  not 
hitherto  sufifered  from  rot.  It  began  about  this  time  to  come 
into  general  use,  and  the  importation  of  seed  from  Tampico  and 
Vera  Cruz  developed  into  a considerable  business.  Sea-island 
cotton  was  said  to  grow  well  on  ground  that  had  been  exhausted 
by  continued  cultivation  of  other  kinds. 

1829.  — A revolution  in  agriculture  was  fairly  inaugurated 
about  this  time,  according  to  a writer  in  the  Southern  Bivouac; 
“Old  things  were  passing  away  and  all  was  becoming  new. 
The  first  field  money  crops  were  indigo  and  cotton,  with  rice 
and  tobacco  as  side  crops  for  home  supply ; and  so  late  as  1831-32, 
many  indigo  vats  were  to  be  seen  along  the  Teche.  But  the 
success  of  the  sugar  crop  along  the  Lower  Mississippi  coast  had 
turned  the  attention  of  planters  to  seed  cane  and  at  this  time  that 
was  the  one  great  thing  needful.  In  1835  nearly  all  the  planta- 
tions on  the  Teche  were  in  sugar.  The  old  gin  houses  were 
turned  into  sugar  mills.  Fifty  years  ago  (1835)  the  Creole 
population  of  southwestern  Louisiana  represented  the  wealth  and 
power  of  their  section.  The  planters  generally  had  an  easy  time 
of  it ; very  few  of  them  in  debt,  they  fared  sumptuously  every 
day  on  what  they  raised  themselves  and  dressed  in  their  neat 
home  cottonade.  They  moved  about  in  good  style  and  equipage, 
but  there  was  nothing  of  the  snob,  no  servants  in  livery,  or 
aristocracy  aping,  so  disgusting  to  true  Americans  everywhere. 
And  in  those  years  as  now,  they  were  a polished  people,  after 
the  similitude  of  their  ancestry,  jealous  and  sensitive  of  their 
honor,  and  brave  in  defending  it.  Very  few  of  the  Creoles  of 
that  day  spoke  English,  or  if  at  all  very  imperfectly.  Their  house 
servants  were  often  used  as  interpreters,  as  it  seems  no  trouble 
for  a negro  to  learn  a language.  They  carried  sociability  to  an 
extent  rarely  met  with  elsewhere.  For  years  it  was  their  custom 
in  ‘Chicot  Noir’  neighborhood  anrl  vicinity  to  meet  at  each 
other's  houses  every  Sunday,  and  have  a good  time  generally,  eat, 
drink  and  be  merry.” 


13 


194 


LOUISIANA 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  Louisiana,  1830-1839 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1830-31 

117,743 

183.5-36 

164,617 

1831-32 

89.002 

1836-37 

243.774 

1832-33 

121,580 

1837-.38 

291,748 

1833-34 

156.857 

186.238 

1838-39 

241,871 

411.224 

1834-35 

1839-40 

1830.  — An  item  in  Niles’  Register  stated  that  from  50,000 
to  60,000  bales  of  cotton  were  shipped  from  the  Red  river  during 
the  season  1830-31. 

1831.  — The  first  railroad  was  constructed  connecting  Lake 
Ponchar train  with  New  Orleans.  This  was  the  second  railroad 
built  in  the  cotton  States. 

1832.  — There  was  a cotton  compress  built  in  New  Orleans, 
known  as  the  “Levee  Cotton  Press,”  as  early  as  1832.  It  cost 
$500,000  and  its  capacity  was  200,000  bales  per  annum.  The 
Orleans  Cotton  Press,  with  a capacity  of  150,000  bales,  and 
warehouses  for  storing  25,000  bales,  cost  $754,000  and  was  com- 
pleted in  1835. 

1835.  — The  City  Council  of  New  Orleans  ordered  the  pur- 
chase of  cotton  oil  “for  the  use  of  the  City.”  The  same  year 
the  Advertiser  of  that  city  announced  that  the  Legislature  had 
incorporated  a company  entitled  the  “Cotton  Seed  Oil  and  Insur- 
ance Co.,”  and  that  a mill  for  making  oil  would  be  built  in 
October. 

1836.  — The  New  Orleans  Price  Current  (August  6)  noted 
the  receipt,  “hy  the  steamer  ‘Lamplighter,’  ” of  20  barrels  of  cotton 
seed  oil  and  20  tons  of  cotton-seed-oil  cake.  This  was  no  doubt 
the  product  of  the  Natchez,  Miss.,  cotton-seed-oil  mill. 

The  crop  exceeded  200,000  bales  for  the  first  time. 

The  Merchants  Exchange  Building,  fronting  on  Royal  Street 
and  Exchange  Place,  was  completed  this  year  at  a cost  of 
$100,000. 

1839. — The  Alexandria  Gazette  stated  that  three  hands  on  the 
plantation  of  T.  D.  Spurlock,  on  Bayou  Robert,  picked  each 
518,  490,  390  pounds — ^total  1,398  pounds  of  cotton  from  5 o’clock 
A.  M.  to  7 P.  M. ; and  on  the  same  day  three  hands  on  G.  Y. 


KING  COTTON 


105 


Kelsoe’s  plantation  picked  587,  565,  497  pounds,  total  1,649 
pounds. 

Of  the  38  parishes  reported  in  the  Census  of  1839,  all  raised 
cotton  but  eight,  Jefferson,  Plaquemine,  St.  Bernard,  St.  Charles, 
Calcasieu,  Claiborne,  Union  and  St.  John  Baptist.  The  parishes 
of  largest  production  were:  Concordia,  West  Feliciana,  Carroll, 
East  Feliciana  and  Pointe  Coupee. 

The  price  of  cotton  on  a Louisiana  plantation,  in  Ouachita 
parish,  from  1839  to  1846,  inclusive,  for  each  year  was  as  follows : 
1839,  5%  to  8J^  cents ; 1840,  9 to  121/2  cents ; 1841,  7 to  9^ 
cents;  1842,  4%  to  7%  cents;  1843  5%  to  9 cents;  1844,  4%  to 
6J4  cents ; 1845,  6i/4  to  7%  cents ; 1846,  10  to  11  cents  per  pound. 

The  crop  for  the  first  time  exceeded  400,000  bales. 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  Louisiana,  1840-1849 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1840-41 

350.812 

299,840 

1845-46 

445,783 

303,571 

1841-42 

1846-47 

1842-43 

456  858 

1847-48 

467,626 

4-37,518 

1843-44 

373,786 

1848-49 

1844-45 

399,524 

1 849-50 

178,737 

1840.  — There  were  26^2  miles  of  railway  in  operation. 

1841.  — Great  injury  to  the  crop  by  the  "army  worm”  in  all  of 
the  cotton  growing  parishes.  In  the  upland  parishes  the  crop  was 
also  damaged  by  a long  summer  drought. 

A New  Orleans-  circular  March  14,  said:  “The  cotton  rates 
to  Europe  have  further  advanced,  and  we  quote  at  l%d.  for 
cotton  to  Liverpool  in  American  ships  and  Ij^d.  to  lA  in 
British.  To  Elavre  2%  cents  have  been  paid,  and  corresponding 
rates  for  other  ports  on  the  continent.  There  is  more  offering 
coastwise  than  vessels  can  take  and  some  of  our  rates  are  merely 
nominal,  viz:  New  York — per  pound,  llj  @ 1%  cents;  Boston 
— per  pound,  1%  @ 1J4  cents.” 

As  to  the  origin  of  the  Mastodon  cotton,  a variety  quite  popu- 
lar at  this  time,  ]\Ir.  Abbey  (in  De  Bow’s  Review)  made  the 
following  statement : 


196 


LOUISIANA 


The  name,  Mastodon,  was  given  to  it  by  myself ; its  nativity 
I have  never  learned.  All  I know  in  relation  to  its  origin  is, 
that  a traveler  in  the  interior  of  Mexico,  about  5 years  ago  pur- 
chased four  seed  at  a high  price  and  brought  them  to  this 
country.  It  has  been  grown  now  four  years  by  myself.  Last 
year  about  20  or  30  other  persons  cultivated  small  quantities  in 
Mississippi  and  Louisiana.  On  either  the  river  bottoms  or 
uplands,  the  product  is  greater  than  that  of  the  common  cotton, 
and  a much  more  certain  crop.  The  picking  of  the  Mastodon  is 
somewhat  better  than  our  common  cotton,  the  bolls  being  about 
double  the  size.  It  hangs  in  the  bolls  slightly  tighter  than  our 
common  cotton,  which  prevents  its  falling  out  in  the  field.  It 
gins  a little  harder  than  the  common.  It  is  the  easiest  to  raise 
and  prepare  for  market  pound  for  pound.  The  length  of  the 
staple  is  about  2 inches,  and  is  regarded  in  New  Orleans  as 
remarkable  for  strength  and  firmness.  My  present  crop  (1845) 
is  the  first  and  only  Mastodon  ever  raised  in  the  United  States 
that  sold  in  New  Orleans  at  16  cents;  other  small  lots  were 
sold  at  12^2  cents. 

This  was  a disastrous  year  for  the  cotton  trade.  In  June 
and  February  the  price  began  falling,  and  by  October  there  was 
a decline  of  2%  to  3 cents  per  pound,  involving  the  failure  of 
many  large  firms  in  New  Orleans,  New  York  and  Liverpool,  the 
liabilities  reaching  nearly  $10,000,000. 

1842.  — In  1842-43  the  price  of  middling  cotton  in  New 
Orleans  in  the  first  week  of  each  month  was  September,  6J4 
cents ; October,  7 cents ; November,  6 cents ; December,  6 cents ; 
January,  6 cents ; February,  fii/o  cents ; March,  4%  cents ; April, 
5I/J  cents  ; May,  6 cents  ; June,  614  cents  ; July,  6J4  cents  ; August, 
6J4  cents.  The  average  for  the  year  on  the  above  basis  was  5.95 
cents.  The  average  in  1844-45  was  5.71  cents;  in  1845-46,  6.78 
cents;  in  1847-48,  7.05  cents,  and  in  1848-49,  6.40  cents. 

1843.  — From  1833  to  1843,  the  public  lands  sold  in  this  State 
amounted  to  2,639,000  acres 

The  crop  w’as  damaged  by  long  continued  rains  and  cater- 
pillars. 

1844.  — The  marked  feature  of  this  year  was  the  abundance 
of  the  caterpillars  in  certain  parishes.  East  and  West  Feliciana, 
East  Baton  Rouge.  St.  Marys,  Jackson,  IMadison  and  Catahoula, 
all  lost  more  or  less  of  the  crop. 


KING  COTTON 


197 


A flood  in  the  Mississippi  and  its  tributaries  in  June  destroyed 
much  of  the  crop.  In  the  parishes  of  Carroll,  Madison,  Tensas, 
Catahoula  and  Franklin  great  damage  was  done.  A partial  esti- 
mate made  by  the  Concordia  Intelligencer  put  the  loss  at  14,000 
bales.  Planters  on  the  Red  river  and  its  tributaries  put  their 
losses  at  about  130,000  bales. 

The  first  bale  of  the  new  crop  was  delivered  at  New  Orleans 
July  29,  from  the  plantation  of  A.  Doherty,  W.  Feliciana  parish. 

1845.  — Edmond  J.  Forstall,  in  an  article  published  in  the  New 
Orleans  Topic  estimated  the  crop  of  Louisiana  at  338,989  bales 
of  450  pounds  each,  the  estimate  being  based  on  an  average  of 
1,636  pounds  to  the  hand. 

The  market  reports  of  the  day  quoted  middling  to  fair  cotton 
in  New  Orleans  as  low  as  4%  cents  per  pound. 

The  following  were  the  charges  of  New  Orleans  commission 
merchants  for  handling  cotton,  as  established  by  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce : On  sales  of  cotton,  2^/0  per  cent. ; or  for  selling, 
$1.00  per  bale,  and  20  cents  per  month  for  storage. 

1846.  — It  was  the  current  report  that  the  crop  was  nearly 
destroyed  by  the  caterpillar ; there  was  too  much  wet  weather  and 
it  was  thought  that  one-sixth  only  of  the  quantity  of  cotton  was 
gathered  as  compared  with  the  previous  year. 

In  September  of  this  year  cotton  was  quoted  in  New  Orleans 
at  11%  cents  per  pound.  In  May  following  it  dropped  to  6 cents. 

1848.  — The  overflow  of  the  Red  river  caused  great  damage 
to  the  growing  crop. 

The  wages  of  agricultural  laborers,  according  to  Prof.  De 
Bow,  of  die  State  Statistical  Bureau,  varied  from  $12  to  $20 
per  month,  the  former  for  females  and  the  latter  for  stout  males ; 
agricultural  laborers,  however,  were  seldom  hired,  at  least  for 
field  work. 

1849.  — Frosts  about  the  middle  of  April  injured  the  young 
plants. 

The  Census  returns  gave  Tensas  parish  the  highest  total 
production,  21,665  bales,  of  400  pounds  each. 

Middling  upland  cotton  at  the  beginning  of  the  season  was 
worth  at  New  Orleans  9-J4  cents,  and  on  February  1,  advanced 
to  13%  tents  per  pound. 


198 


LOUISIANA 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Louisiana,  1850-1859 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1850-51 

Bales 

250,465 

412,829 

447,298 

322,596 

.305,911 

450,347 

323,953 

Bales 

No  data 

1851-52 

1852-53 

1853-54 

1854-55 

1855-56 

2.233 

3 080 

1856-57 

1857-58 

379,816 

2,767 

1858-59 

500.218 

3,056 

4, .339 

1859-60 

777,738 

2 

6,725 

1850.  — There  were  80  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this 
year. 

G.  W.  Thompson,  of  Sabine  parish,  stated  that  he  had  raised 
sea-island  cotton  on  the  high  lands  of  this  parish,  where  it  yielded 
nearly  as  well  as  the  Petit  Gulf. 

The  range  of  prices  for  middling  upland  at  New  Orleans  was 
from  10%  in  January  to  13%  cents  per  pound  in  October. 

New  Orleans  became  the  center  of  a very  remarkable  and 
disastrous  short-crop  speculation  this  season,  1850-51.  Cotton 
is  said  to  have  been  shipped  from  the  city  to  Liverpool  at  a loss 
of  over  $70  a bale. 

1851.  — The  range  of  prices  for  middling  upland  at  New 
Orleans  was  from  6%  in  August  to  13%  cents  per  pound  in  Janu- 
ary; in  1852,  from  7 in  January  to  10  cents  in  September ; in  1853, 
from  8 in  February  to  11  cents  in  September ; in  1854,  from  7% 
cents  in  May  to  9'%  in  January;  in  1855,  from  7%  cents  in  Janu- 
ary to  12  cents  in  June;  in  1856,  from  8%  cents  in  January  to 
12%  cents  in  December ; in  1857,  from  9 cents  in  December  to  I614 
cents  in  September  (the  latter  was  the  highest  quotation  for 
many  years)  ; in  1858,  from  9%  cents  in  January  to  12%  cents 
in  October;  in  1859,  from  10%  cents  in  October  to  12%  in 
April. 

1852.  — M.  W.  Huntington,  in  a report  to  the  Commissioner 

of  Patents  said:  cultivators  on  the  bottom  lands  of 

Black  river,  Catahoula  parish,  obtain  an  average  product  in  a 
series  of  years  of  2,000  pounds  of  seed  cotton  per  acre,  about 
30  per  cent,  of  which  is  clean,  marketable  cotton.” 


KING  COTTON 


19y 

1853.  — William  Wilber,  of  New  Orleans,  exhibited  some 
samples  of  cotton  oil  at  a meeting  of  the  American  Institute  held 
at  New  York  in  October,  1853.  The  following  year,  M’ilber  & 
Co.,  constructed  a cotton-seed-oil  mill  at  New  Orleans  and  began 
making  oil  with  a huller  patented  by  Mr.  Wilber  in  1855. 

1854.  — L.  Rathbun  estimated  the  yield  of  cotton  in  Bossier 
parish  at  from  300  to  800  pounds  of  lint  to  the  acre,  and  the  cost 
of  transportation  to  New  Orleans  at  about  25  cents  per  100 
pounds. 

Dr.  Coxe,  in  an  article  in  the  New  Orleans  Delta,  undertook 
to  demonstrate  that  the  planters  were  throwing  away  the  seed  of 
a 3,000,000  bale  crop,  that  might  be  made  to  yield  them  millions 
of  dollars  annually;  that  lOQ  pounds  of  seed  cotton  would  pro- 
duce 2 gallons  of  oil,  48  pounds  of  oil  cake  and  6i/4  pounds  of 
soapstock,  which  last,  with  additional  ingredients  of  small  value, 
made  20  pounds  of  soap ; that  if  only  one-half  the  seed  of 
3,000,000  bales  was  used,  it  could  be  converted  into  oil.  oil  cake 
and  soapstock  worth  $38,820,000. 

1855. - — [Martin  & Aldige  built  and  put  in  operation  a cotton- 
seed-oil mill  at  New  Orleans.  A few  months  later  another  oil 
mill  was  built  by  A.  A.  Maginnis. 

A Commercial  Convention  was  held  in  New  Orleans  which 
adopted  this  resolution:  “That  this  Convention  recommend  to 
the  merchants  and  capitalists  of  southern  ports  the  establishment 
of  lines  of  steamers  between  their  respective  ports  and  the  dif- 
ferent ports  of  Europe.  Also,  that  to  further  this  great  object. 
Congress  be  recommended  to  make  such  appropriation  for  deepen- 
ing the  inlets  and  harbors  for  other  purposes  as  may  be  deemed 
necessary.”  Apparently  the  object  was  to  check  the  decline  of 
exports  of  cotton  from  New  Orleans  and  southern  ports,  which 
were  going  overland  through  New  York. 

1858.- — P’or  the  first  time  the  crop  this  year  exceeded  500,000 
bales. 

In  commenting  on  a statement  that  Col.  Bond,  of  Georgia,  had 
produced  a cotton  crop  in  1858,  amounting  to  2,100  bales,  a con- 
tributor to  De  Bow’s  Review,  said:  “There  are  half  a dozen 
planters  in  Concordia  parish  and  in  others,  as  also  many  more 


200 


LOUISIANA 


in  ^Mississippi  that  make  a higher  mark  than  this.”  He  mentioned 
A.  V.  Davis,  Esq.,  of  Concordia  parish,  as  making  several  hun- 
dred bales  more  than  Col.  Bond;  R.  L.  Marshall,  of  Louisiana, 
as  making  3,500  bales,  and  John  Ruth,  Esq.,  of  Hard  Times, 
equally  as  much,  if  not  more  ; Fred.  Stanton,  Esq.,  2,800  bales 
in  1859,  and  a still  larger  crop  in  1855 — all  in  Louisiana.  L.  R. 
iMarshall,  of  Natchez,  Miss.,  was  a producer  of  4,000  bales ; Dr. 
Stephen  Duncan,  of  Mississippi,  more  than  4,000  bales.  "The 
greatest  estates  of  the  two  princely  planters  of  this  region,”  he 
added,  “the  late  Samuel  Davis  and  Francis  Surget,  Esq.,  always 
produced  from  3,000  to  5,000  bales  each,  until  their  deaths 
divided  their  estates.”  The  late  Ned  Richardson,  of  Jackson, 
Miss.,  who  owned  a number  of  plantations  in  Louisiana  and 
Mississippi,  between  1870  and  1880  often  made  crops  exceeding 
10,000  bales,  and  was  no  doubt  the  most  extensive  cotton  planter 
in  the  world,  unless  the  Khedive  of  Egypt  be  excepted. 

The  crop  for  the  first  time  exceeded  a half-million  bales. 

1859. — The  largest  crop  to  date,  777,738  bales,  was  produced 
this  year. 

Tensas  parish,  according  to  the  Census  produced  141,493 
bales  of  400  pounds  each,  which  was  the  highest  yield  made  by 
any  parish. 

The  Chicago,  St.  Louis  8z  New  Orleans  R.  R.,  now  the  Illinois 
Central,  from  New  Orleans  to  East  Cairo  (547  miles),  w'as  char- 
tered in  1852,  and  opened  from  New  Orleans  to  Canton,  IMiss. 
(206  miles),  in  1859,  and  extended  to  the  Ohio  river  in  1873. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Louisiana,  1860-1869 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

Bales 

Bales 

1860-61 

5.55,755 

4,979 

No  data 

No  data 

1861-62 

No  data 

No  data 

do 

do 

1862-63 

do 

do 

do 

do 

1863-64 

do 

do 

do 

do 

1864-65 

do 

do 

do 

do 

1865-66 

do 

do 

do 

do 

1866-67 

164,949 

1,265 

do 

do 

1867-68 

1.59,941 

1,426 

do 

do 

1868-69 

2.57,437 

1 ,380 

do 

do 

1869-70 

.350,8.32 

1,707 

4 

13,084 

COTTON  COMPRESS  AT  ALEXANDRIA,  LA. 
Courtesy  of  W.  Collier  Estes,  Shreveport,  La. 


KING  COTTON 


201 


1860.  — There  were  335  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this  year. 

The  range  of  prices  at  New  Orleans  for  middling  upland 

was  from  1)14  in  December  to  111/4  cents  per  pound  in 
October. 

1861. — Only  27,678  bales  of  cotton  were  shipped  from  New 
Orleans  coastwise  and  to  foreign  countries  during  the  season 
1861-62. 

The  New  Orleans  Crescent  strongly  urged  the  planters  to 
destroy  their  cotton,  “rather  than  let  it  fall  into  the  hands  of  the 
Yankees." 

1862.  — The  exports  and  coastwise  shipments  of  cotton  from 
New  Orleans  amounted  to  23,750  bales.  There  was  an  increase 
in  1863  to  128,130,  and  in  1864  to  192,351  bales. 

1863.  — The  tax  on  cotton  collected  in  the  State  by  the  Federal 
Government  amounted  to  $19,921;  in  1864,  $436,045;  in  1865, 
$593,108,  and  in  1866,  $4,300,150. 

1865.  — The  following  appeared  in  a New  Orleans  paper: — - 
“The  abrogation  of  the  $5.00  per  bale  hospital  tax  and  the  20 
per  cent,  war  tax  on  cotton  by  proclamation  of  the  President, 
have  had  a happy  effect  throughout  the  country  and  especially 
upon  our  market,  giving  an  impetus  to  all  branches  of  the  busi- 
ness. Not  only  is  the  great  staple  coming  forward  more  freely, 
but  the  demand  is  more  general  and  active,  with  an  advance 
of  profits.” 

1866.  — Middling  upland  cotton  was  worth  from  31  to  49 
cents  per  pound  at  New  Orleans  in  1866 ; from  I414  to  331/2 
cents  in  1867 ; from  15  to  311/0  cents  in  1868 ; and  from  23% 
to  321/4  cents  in  1869. 

The  merchants  of  New  Orleans  memorialized  the  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury  in  regard  to  the  oppressiveness  of  the  direct  tax 
on  cotton.  This  tax  was  collected  under  an  act  of  Congress 
passed  July  1,  1862,  requiring  the  producer  to  pay  a tax  of  2 cents 
per  pound.  Subsequently,  July  13.  1866,  the  act  was  so  amended 
as  to  increase  the  tax  to  3 cents  per  pound.  The  total  amount  of 
tax  so  collected  during  the  six  years  the  laws  were  in  force,  was 
$68,072,388.99. 

The  caterpillar  destroyed  nearly  one-half  of  the  crop  this  year. 


202 


LOUISIANA 


Prof.  De  Bow,  after  making  an  extensive  tour  through  the 
cotton  States,  estimated  that  the  crop  would  not  exceed  1,200,000 
bales,  as  only  about  a half  of  the  cotton  land  would  be  under 
cultivation,  and  the  negro,  “under  the  wild  hopes  of  freedom, 
would  not  return  to  the  plantation,  besides  the  efficient  labor  had 
been  reduced  by  the  war  at  least  one-fourth.” 

1867.  — The  Report  of  the  State  Commissioner  of  Immigration 
said:  “The  quantity  of  this  product  (cotton)  raised  by  exclusive 
white  labor  has  been  immensely  greater  than  has  been  heretofore 
estimated.  In  every  part  of  this  State  (La.)  as  soon  as  you 
leave  the  limits  of  the  great  plantations  during  the  season  of 
cultivation,  we  find  not  only  white  men,  but  boys  and  girls  labor- 
ing at  all  hours  in  the  fields.  These  people  are  uniformly  the 
most  robust,  vigorous  and  healthy  of  the  population.” 

The  tax  on  cotton  collected  in  the  State  by  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment amounted  to  $2,971,708,  and  in  1868  to  $1,777,569. 

1868.  — The  caterpillar  caused  some  damage,  but  not  so  much 
as  in  1867. 

1869.  — -The  Census  gave  Concordia  the  largest  total  produc- 
tion of  any  parish  in  the  State,  26,712  bales. 

Dr.  Alford,  on  2)4  acres  of  poor  pine  land,  applied  superphos- 
phates at  the  rate  of  350  pounds  to  the  acre,  planting  and  culti- 
vating in  the  usual  manner.  From  the  fertilized  land  so  treated, 
he  made  3,000  pounds  of  seed  cotton,  or  1,333  pounds  of  lint  to 
the  acre  were  gathered,  while  similar  land  adjoining  and  not  fer- 
tilized, produced  only  100  pounds  per  acre. 


Commercial  Crops  axd  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Louisiana,  1870-1879 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1870-71 

Bales 

600.000 

Bales 

1.911 

No  data 

No  data 

1871-72 

396.000 

2,520 

do 

do 

187‘>-73 

520,000 

2,790 

do 

do 

1873-74 

510.000 

2,790 

3 

15,000 

1874-75 

520.000 

2,340 

No  data 

No  Data 

1875-76 

650,000 

2,278 

do 

do 

1876-77 

560,000 

889 

do 

do 

1877-78 

420,000 

1.057 

do 

do 

1878-79 

476,629 

1.302 

do 

do 

1879-80 

508.569 

1 ..358 

2 

6,096 

KING  COTTON 


203 


1870.  — There  were  450  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this  year. 

The  New  Orleans  & INIobile  R.  R.,  now  the  Louisville  & 

Nashville,  from  New  Orleans  to  Mobile  (141  miles),  was 
chartered  in  1869  and  completed  on  October  29,  1870. 

The  following  are  the  lowest  and  highest  quotations  for 
middling  upland  cotton  at  New  Orleans  for  each  of  the  years 
named : 1870,  U%  to  24%  cents ; 1871,  14  to  201/2  cents ; 1872, 
I8I/2  to  21%  cents;  1873,  U%  to  20  cents;  1874,  14  to  18  cents; 
1875,  121/0  to  16  cents;  1876,  10%  to  13%  cents;  1877,  10%  to 
12%  cents;  1878,  8%  to  11%  cents;  and  1879,  9'%  to  12%  cents. 

1871.  — The  crop  suffered  from  continuous  rains  during  the 
month  of  June.  The  rainfall  at  New  Orleans  during  the  month 
was  11.3  inches,  as  compared  with  3.3  inches  the  previous  June. 

The  caterpillar  destroyed  much  of  the  crop.  The  loss  in-  St. 
Landry  parish  was  very  great,  45  per  cent,  in  Iberia,  and  a third 
of  the  crop  in  Washington.  Avoyelles  reported  a total  loss  and 
Caddo  serious  injur}". 

1872.  — I'he  damage  from  the  caterpillar  was  almost  as  serious 
this  year  as  in  1871. 

1873.  — The  destruction  caused  by  the  cotton-worm  was  said 
to  be  the  most  serious  on  record.  In  the  southern  parishes  from 
one-third  to  nearly  the  whole  of  the  crop  was  reported  as 
destroyed. 

An  effort  was  made  to  have  Congress  refund  the  revenue 
taxes  collected  on  cotton  from  1863  to  1868.  The  amounts 
collected  from  the  planters  during  each  fiscal  year  while  the  law 
was  in  force,  were  as  follows:  1863,  $351,311;  1864,  $1,268,412; 
1865,  $1,772,983;  1866,  $18,409,655;  1867,  $23,769,079;  1868, 
$22,500,948;  total,  $68,072,388. 

1874.  — The  Cotton  Exchange  at  New  Orleans,  and  other 
cities,  began  (October  1)  the  quotation  of  prices  for  the  new 
grades  of  cotton  established  by  the  National  Cotton  Exchange. 
The  new  classification  was  as  follows : Ordinary,  good  ordinary, 
low  middling,  strict  good  ordinary,  middling,  good  middling, 
middling  fair  and  fair. 

The  National  Cotton  Exchange  proposed  to  the  Weather 
Bureau  a plan  for  collecting  information  by  telegraph  in  regard 
to  the  growing  cotton  crops  which  was  adopted. 


204 


LOUISIANA 


1875.  — A planter  of  Bossier  parish  reported  making  600  bales 
on  480  acres.  In  Concordia  parish  a yield  of  II/2  to  2 bales  to 
the  acre  was  not  uncommon. 

1876.  — The  damage  by  the  caterpillar  this  year  was  slight  as 
compared  with  previous  '-ears. 

1878.  — The  cotton-worm  injured  the  crop  in  seven  parishes. 
They  were  most  injurious  in  Bienville,  Bossier  and  Caddo 
parishes. 

1879.  — The’ Department  of  Agriculture  estimatefl  the  loss  from 
cotton-worms,  from  1875  to  1878,  inclu.'^ive,  at  438,700  bales. 

The  Census  gave  Tensas  parish  the  largest  total  production, 
viz : 41,859  bales,  and  East  Carroll  the  highest  yield,  a little  under 
a bale  per  acre. 

There  were  23  cotton  oil  mills  in  the  State. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consu.mption  of  Cotton  in 
Louisiana,  1880-1889 


Total 

Domestic 

Number 

Number  of 

Crop 

Consumption 

of  Mills 

Spindles 

Bales 

Bales 

1880-81 

3,59.147 

.5,175 

No  data 

No  data 

1881-82 

485.000 

6,601 

do 

do 

1882-83 

.560,000 

7,199 

do 

do 

188.3-84 

490,200 

7.820 

do 

do 

1884-8.5 

485,200 

7,268 

do 

do 

1885-86 

487,722 

8.763 

do 

do 

1886-87 

471,974 

9,160 

2 

27.000 

1887-88 

504.622 

9,517 

2 

26,500 

1888-89 

446,778 

8.036 

2 

30.000 

1889-90 

6.59,180 

12,223 

2 

45,101 

1880. — Excessive  rains  in  the  fall  months  injured  the  crop 
greatly. 

There  were  652  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this  year. 

J.  P.  Aloore,  of  IMilliken's  Bend,  patented  a device  for  cotton 
picking  consisting  of  brushes  and  combs  made  to  revolve  in  a 
frame  that  would  straddle  the  cotton  rows. 

The  Louisiana  Western  R.  R.,  now  the  Southern  Pacific, 
from  New  Orleans  to  Houston  (362  miles),  began  building  in 
1879  and  the  whole  line  was  put  in  operation  in  August,  1880. 

The  Louisiana  Western,  now  the  Southern  Pacific,  from 
Lafayette  to  Orange  (112  miles),  was  completed  in  August. 


KING  COTTON 


205 


1881.  — Boll-worms  destroyed  29', 649  bales  of  cotton,  as  esti- 
mated b>'  the  Department  of  x-\griculture. 

One  of  the  largest  cargoes  of  cotton  ever  handled  by  a Missis- 
sippi river  steamer,  was  carried  into  New  Orleans  in  March  of 
this  year  by  the  steamer  "Henry  Frank,”  and  consisted  of  9,226 
bales. 

1882.  — The  corner-stone  of  a new  Cotton  Exchange  building 
at  New  Orleans  was  laid  January  23,d. 

The  boll-worm  damaged  the  crops.  In  1883  the  cotton-worm 
also  made  its  appearance,  and  in  1885  both  of  the  above  insects 
infested  the  cotton  fields. 

The  Texas  & Pacific  Ry.,  from  New  Orleans,  via  Shreve- 
port, to  El  Paso,  Texas  (1,236  miles),  was  organized  in  1871 
and  completed  on  January  1. 

The  Texas  & Pacific  Ry..  from  New  Orleans  to  Shreveport 
(325  miles),  was  opened  for  through  traffic  October  15. 

1883.  — There  were  19  cotton  oil  mills  in  operation  in  the 
State  at  this  time. 

The  New  Orleans  & North  Eastern  R.  R..  now  the  Queen  & 
Crescent,  from  New  Orleans  to  Meridian  (196  miles),  was 
chartered  in  1870  and  completed  November  1. 

1884.  — The  Vicksburg,  Shreveport  & Pacific  R.  R..  now  a 
part  of  the  Queen  & Crescent  Line,  from  Delta  to  Shreveport 
( 169  miles ; . chartered  in  1883,  was  opened  from  Delta  opposite 
Vicksburg,  to  Tlonroe,  in  January,  1861,  and  to  Shreveport  in 
August. 

The  Louisville,  New  Orleans  & Texas  Ry..  now  the  Yazoo 
& Tlississippi  A'alley  Railway,  from  New  Orleans  to  Memphis 
(455  miles,,  was  constructed  from  New  Orleans  to  Vicksburg 
(235  miles'),  in  1884  and  the  entire  line  opened  November  1. 

The  New  Orleans  Cotton  Centennial  was  held  this  year. 
Senator  Garland  (Ark.),  who  introduced  a bill  for  the  Govern- 
ment's encouragement  of  the  Exposition,  said  the  project  had 
originated  in  November,  1882,  with  the  Cotton  Planters’  Associa- 
tion at  their  convention  in  Little  Rock,  Arkansas. 

1885.  — According  to  Zacharie’s  New  Orleans  Guide,  there 
were  seven  cotton-seed-oil  mills  in  operation  in  that  citv. 


206 


LOUISIANA 


1886. — The  Natchez,  Red  River  & Texas  R.  R.,  from 
Vidalia  to  Black  River,  was  chartered  in  1881  and  completed  in 
April. 

1889. — Claiborne  parish  returns  to  the  Census  showed  the 
largest  area  in  cotton,  70,991  acres,  and  Tensas  the  largest  total 
production,  40,957  bales. 

A Convention  of  American  Cotton  Exchanges  was  held  on 
September  11  at  New  Orleans,  which  adopted  the  following 
resolution:  “That  on  and  after  the  first  day  of  October,  1889, 
all  cotton  shall  be  sold  at  net  weight,  allowing  24  pounds  off 
gross  weight  for  tare  on  jute  covered  bales,  and  16  pounds  off 
for  tare  on  cotton  covered  bales,  the  cotton  covering  to  be  of 
standard  weight,  % of  a pound  to  the  yard.” 


Co;viMERCiAL  Crops  axd  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Louisiana,  1890-1899 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1890-91 

Bales 

736,000 

Bales 

12,894 

2 

50,000 

1891-92 

635,000 

15,087 

4 

50.400 

1892-93 

340,000 

16,999 

4 

50,000 

1893-94 

473.000 

14.713 

4 

52,.328 

1894-95 

760.757 

16,429 

4 

57,828 

1895-96 

513,843 

13,.344 

4 

60.752 

1896-97 

567,251 

14.922 

2 

57.752 

1897-98 

788,325 

16,065 

3 

59,252 

1898-99 

717,747 

18,749 

.3 

58,272 

1899-00 

708,508 

15,695 

5 

62,222 

1890. — A bill  was  introduced  in  Congress  taxing  all  dealers 
in  options  or  futures  in  all  farm  products  $1,000  per  annum,  and 
also  requiring  the  dealer  to  pay  5 cents  a pound  for  each  and 
every  pound  of  cotton  sold  for  future  delivery.  The  Cotton 
Exchanges  at  New  Orleans,  New  York,  and  other  cities  protested 
against  the  passage  of  the  bill.  It  never  became  a law. 

There  were  1,740  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this  year. 

1892.  — The  Kansas  City,  Watkins  & Gulf  R.  R.,  from  Lake 
Charles  to  Alexandria  (98  miles),  was  chartered  in  1887  and 
completed  in  July. 

A fire  originating  among  the  compresses  at  New  Orleans  on 
April  3,  destroyed  about  30,000  bales  of  cotton. 

1893.  — -Cotton  has  long  since  ceased  to  be  the  product  of  the 


KING  COTTON 


•>07 


negro,  said  Edward  Atkinson.  The  white  States  and  white 
districts  have  become  the  cotton  centers  of  the  South.  The 
negro  parishes  of  Carroll,  Tensas  and  Madison,  the  finest  cotton 
country  in  the  world,  where  the  yield  is  greater  and  the  staple  the 
finest,  produce  far  smaller  crops  than  they  bore  thirty  years 
ago,  while  the  white  counties  of  Texas  have  increased  their 
production  four  and  five-fold.  Otken  states  (Ills  of  the  South) 
that  if  the  gain  in  cotton  production  by  white  labor  is  2^  per 
cent,  annually  since  1883,  then  the  cotton  produced  by  white  labor 
in  1893  is  about  70  per  cent,  of  the  entire  crop. 

The  crop  was  cut  off  by  continuous  wet  weather  in  the 
spring,  and  also  by  the  ravages  of  insects. 

1894.  — Regarding  the  condition  of  the  cotton  planters  the 
Commissioner  of  Agriculture  said  in  his  annual  Report  (1894)  : 
“They  have  learned  self-reliance  and  find  to  their  joy  that  a 
few  bales  of  low-priced  cotton,  with  everything  else  needed  on 
the  farm  raised  at  home,  is  absolutely  better  than  scores  of  bales, 
with  everything  to  buy.”  The  general  condition  of  the  small 
farmers  was,  he  believed,  better  than  ever,  and  that  the  continued 
low  price  of  cotton  had  been  largely  instrumental  in  forcing 
such  a desirable  result. 

The  New  Orleans  & North  Western  R.  R.,  from  Natchez  to 
Bastrop,  was  chartered  in  1887  and  completed  in  May,  1894. 

1895.  — The  New  Orleans  Cotton  Exchange  issued  a circular 
calling  attention  to  the  inferior  bagging  and  ties  used  for  wrap- 
ping cotton  bales,  and  urged  the  use  of  2^/^  pound  bagging  and 
heavier  ties. 

189'6. — The  average  cost  of  raising  a pound  of  cotton  this 
year  as  ascertained  by  the  Department  of  Agriculture  was  5.01 
cents  per  pound. 

1897. — The  largest  crop  in  the  history  of  the  State  to  date, 
788,325  bales,  was  produced  this  year. 

The  steamer  “Milwaukee,”  which  cleared  from  New  Orleans 
for  Liverpool  on  October  30,  carried  23,814  bales  of  cotton.  To 
date  this  was  the  largest  cargo  of  cotton  ever  carried  from  any 
United  States  port.  (See  Texas  notes,  1900.) 

The  unprecedented  floods  in  the  Mississippi  in  April  and  May, 


208 


LOUISIANA 


and  the  breaking  of  the  levees  inundated  about  a million  acres  of 
farm  lands,  one-fourth  of  which  was  devoted  to  cotton.  In 
consequence  planting  was  greatly  retarded  in  the  river  counties. 

The  Kansas  City,  Pittsburg  & Gulf  R.  R.,  now  the  Kansas 
City  Southern,  from  the  Arkansas  State  line,  via  Shreveport  to 
Port  Arthur,  was  chartered  in  1887  and  the  entire  line  from 
Kansas  City  to  Port  Arthur  (786  miles),  was  opened  Sep- 
tember 11. 

1899. — There  were  2,148  cotton  gins  in  operation  this  year ; 
in  1900  there  were  2,089,  and  in  1901,  2,207.  The  average  output 
of  each  gin,  for  each  season,  according  to  the  Census,  was, 
respectively,  330,  342  and  390  bales.  The  average  cost  of  ginning 
and  baling  in  1899  was  $1.75  per  bale. 

Mayor  Flower,  of  New  Orleans,  issued  a call  for  a Cotton 
Congress  to  meet  in  New  Orleans  on  February  19,  the  object 
being  to  discuss  a remedy  for  the  low  price  of  cotton. 

Some  of  the  varieties  of  cotton  planted  at  the  Calhoun  Experi- 
ment Station  and  which  returned  the  highest  yield  of  seed  cotton 
per  acre,  were,  in  the  order  named:  Hawkin's  Prolific,  Texas 
Burr,  Truitt’s  Improved,  Jones’  Improved,  etc.  The  experiments 
with  sea-island  and  Egyptian  cottons  were  not  satisfactory. 

There  were  2,664  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this  year. 

St.  Landry  parish  had  the  highest  total  production,  44,729 
bales. 

The  Texarkana,  Shreveport  & Natchez  Ry.,  from  Shreveport 
to  Texarkana  (72  miles),  was  chartered  in  1888  and  completed 
during  this  year. 

During  this  year  88,328  farmers  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of 
1,376,254  acres  of  cotton  which  produced  349,760,572  pounds  of 
lint,  or  an  average  of  254  pounds  per  acre.  The  parishes  report- 
ing the  largest  acreage  were,  St.  Landry,  Caddo,  Claiborne, 
Bossier,  De  Soto,  Natchidoches,  Avoyelles,  Morehouse  and 
Pointe  Coupee. 

The  Census  returns  showed  that  St.  Landry  parish  not  only 
planted  the  largest  area  in  cotton,  but  also  produced  a larger  crop 
than  any  other  parish  in  the  State.  The  area  planted  was  78,369 
acres,  and  the  yield  42,036  bales. 


KING  COTTON 


209 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Louisiana,  1900-1908 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1900-01 

Bales 

714,073 

Bales 

16.694 

5 

62,652 

1901-02 

860.848 

17,843 

6 

67.052 

1902-03 

911,953 

17,320 

6 

67,252 

190.3-04 

858.568 

13.568 

5 

67,048 

1904-05 

1,109.121 

13,917 

5 

67,496 

1905-06 

523,021 

16,141 

4 

92,700 

1906-07 

955.473 

16,182 

4 

91,252 

1907 -OS 

662,032 

14,012 

4 

89,552 

1900. — There  were  in  operation  this  year  twenty-one  cotton 
oil  mills  that  consumed  250,983  tons  of  seed  valued  at  $2,833,767. 
Of  the  seed  produced  in  the  State  71.7  per  cent,  was  manufactured 
into  oil  products  valued  at  $1,397,891.  • 

The  crop  was  damaged  by  the  boll-worm.  Pointe  Coupee  and 
Cameron  parishes  were  the  center  of  the  greatest  injury. 

The  steamer  "iNIechanician"  cleared  from  New  Orleans  for 
Liverpool  (October  31)  with  a cargo  of  26,000  bales  of  cotton. 
The  record  cotton  cargo,  26,120  bales,  was  carried  by  the  steamer 
“Irada"  from  Galveston  to  Liverpool.  October  20,  1900.  (See 
Texas  notes,  1900.) 

The  Louisiana  & Arkansas  R.  R.,  from  Ashland,  La.,  to 
Stamps,  Ark.  (92  miles),  was  chartered  in  1898  and  opened  in 
1900. 

A patent  was  granted  to  John  A.  Peer,  of  New’  Orleans,  for 
an  automatic  cotton-picker,  consisting  of  laterallv  extending 
picker-belts,  the  revolving  belts  being  provided  with  pickers  and 
separated  so  as  to  permit  the  branches  of  the  plants  to  pass 
between  them.  Patents  for  cotton-picking  devices  were  also 
granted  to  William.  J.  Dyer,  of  Shreveport,  and  to  George  C. 
Phillips,  of  (Manchac  (in  1894). 

1902.  — A patent  was  granted  to  Peter  F.  Haertl,  of  Shreve- 
port. for  a cotton  harvesting  machine. 

1903.  — The  Mexican  boll-weevil  made  its  first  appearance  in 
Sabine  parish.  In  1907  it.  reached  and  crossed  the  Mississippi 

. State  line. 

The  stocks  at  interior  towms  at  the  close  of  the  season.  August 
. 14 


210 


LOUISIANA 


31,  were  the  smallest  in  many  years,  and  amounted  to  less  than 
1,000  bales. 

It  is  said  that  a pool,  formed  by  New  Orleans  and  New  York 
cotton  merchants,  made  $8,000,000  on  the  advance  in  the  price 
of  cotton  during  the  season. 

Referring  to  the  great  scarcity  of  cotton  at  the  close  of  the 
season,  a news  item  said  that  a great  deal  of  “queer  cotton”  was 
received  at  New  Orleans.  Owners  of  gins  scraped  their  floors 
and  made  up  several  bales,  and  one  bale,  of  the  crop  of  1872,  was 
received  from  Georgia  which  had  been  held  by  a planter  for 
thirty-one  years.  The  bale  had  lost  50  pounds  of  its  original 
weight,  but  the  staple  was  as  good  as  ever.  The  planter  ordered 
the  bale  to  be  sold  whenever  the  market  reached  16  cents. 

1904.  — The  price  of  July  cotton  contracts,  on  January  26, 
reached  16  cents  in  New  Orleans,  and  on  January  28,  16.90 
cents.  A few  days  later  (February  1)  July  cotton  sold  at  18.14 
cents. 

A convention  was  held  at  Shreveport  to  devise  some  means  of 
exterminating  the  boll-weevil. 

1905.  — A great  cotton  convention  was  held  at  New  Orleans, 
January  12,  when  the  Southern  Cotton  Association  was  organ- 
ized, the  object  being  “to  protect  and  develop  the  cotton  and 
agricultural  interests  of  the  cotton  growing  States.”  The  Con- 
vention adopted  resolutions  to  hold  the  balance  of  the  crop  for 
15  cents  a pound,  and  to  reduce  the  cotton  acreage  25  per  cent. 

The  announcement  of  the  Government  condition  report  at 
New  Orleans,  July  3,  caused  a remarkable  advance  in  future 
contracts.  October  contracts  within  a few  minutes  rose  from 
9.40  cents  to  10.53.  The  ginners’  report  of  November  21,  also 
caused  a sensational  advance,  spots  gaining  nearly  % cent  a 
pound  and  futures  102  points,  all  within  an  hour  and  a half. 

1906.  — The  first  cotton  bloom  of  the  season  was  exhibited  at 
Forest  Hill,  Rapides  parish,  April  30. 

A severe  storm  on  September  27-28  damaged  the  crop  consid- 
erably in  the  northeastern  section  of  the  State. 

The  eastern  limit  of  the  territory  infected  by  the  boll-weevil 
at  this  time  was  the  center  of  Rapides  parish,  about  50  miles 
from  the  Mississippi  river. 


KING  COTTON 


211 


The  Sonthern  Cotton  Association  held  its  second  annual 
convention  at  New  Orleans  in  January,  and  resolved  to  reduce  the 
cotton  acreage  15  per  cent,  from  that  of  1905,  and  to  hold  the 
balance  of  the  crop  for  15  cents.  According  to  the  Department 
of  Agriculture  the  acreage  increased  over  5,000,000  acres,  and 
New  York  prices  after  the  convention  was  held  advanced  from 
11  cents  in  February  to  13%  cents  in  August. 

1907. — According  to  the  Census  there  were  1,874  cotton  gins 
in  operation,  the  average  output  of  each  gin  being  364  bales. 

There  were  50  cotton  oil  mills  in  the  State  that  consumed 
178,572  tons  of  seed  costing  $2,857,152.  The  value  of  the  prod- 
ucts, including  linters,  was  $4,722,078. 


CHAPTER  X 


Texas,  and  Its  Cotton  Crops  from  1833  to  1908 — Number 
OF  Cotton  Mills  and  Spindles  and  Domestic  Consume 
TiON  OF  Cotton — Historical  Data  Relating  to  Cotion 
Production. 

It  is  not  at  all  improbable  that  the  cotton  plant  was  a native 
of  Texas.  And  why  not?  The  earliest  Spanish  explorers  found 
it  in  South  and  Central  America,  and  in  Mexico,  and  certainly 
the  climate  and  soil  of  Texas  were  equally  adapted  to  its  growth. 
And  there  is  very  good  historical  evidence  that  it  was  also  found 
in  Texas. 

One  of  the  many  Spanish  expeditions  to  America  was  that  of 
Panfelo  de  Narvaez,  which  left  Spain  in  1527.  The  expedition 
was  wrecked  on  the  Gulf  coast,  and  of  the  three  hundred  who  set 
out  with  Narvaez,  only  four  returned  to  civilization.  They  were 
cast  ashore  at  some  point  west  of  Matagorda  Bay,  and  after 
living  with  the  Indian  tribes  of  Texas  some  six  or  eight  years, 
finally  made  their  way  to  Sinaloa  on  the  western  coast  of  Mexico. 
They  travelled  as  far  inland  as  the  Red  river,  and  in  1536,  some- 
where in  North  Texas,  they  encountered  a tribe  that  wore  cotton 
shirts  and  used  cotton  blankets.^ 

Although  there  were  Spanish  and  French  settlements  in  Texas 
as  early  as  1685  and  1691,  they  were  made  simply  for  the  pur- 
pose of  acquiring  a title  to  the  soil.  For  more  than  one  hundred 
years  the  Spanish  occupied  this  splendid  country,  without  turn- 
ing a hand  to  develop  its  resources,  and  it  was  not  until  August, 
1821,  when  Austin  arrived  on  the  banks  of  the  Brazos  river, 
after  having  obtained  permission  of  the  Spanish  governor  to 
explore  the  country,  that  it  began  to  attract  the  attention  of  the 
outside  world. 

One  of  the  earliest  of  Austin’s  colonists  was  Col.  Jared  E. 

^ Narrative  of  Alvrz  Nurez  CabrcT  de  Vaci.  translated  by  Buckingham  Smith  (1858y. 

212 


KING  COTTON 


2i;j 

Groce,  to  whom,  perhaps,  belongs  the  distinction  oi  introducing 
cotton  culture.  In  1825  he  erected  on  the  Brazos  river  the 
second  cotton  gin  in  the  territory,  the  first  having  been  built  by 
John  Cartwright,  of  “the  Redlands.” 

Beginning  with  1825,  and  induced  by  the  extreme  liberality 
of  the  Mexican  colonization  laws,  immigrants  poured  into  Texas, 
and  wherever  new  settlements  were  made  cotton  culture  was 
introduced.  The  production  of  the  staple  increased  from  year 
to  year,  until  in  1834  it  exceeded  2,000  bales.  In  1840  it  was 
nearly  8,000  bales,  and  when  the  State  was  admitted  into  the 
Union  (1845)  it  had  reached  27,000  bales.  The  Census  of  1850 
showed  a production  of  58,000  bales,  and  that  of  1860,  431,000, 
which  was  the  largest  crop  made  prior  to  the  Civil  War.  By 
reason  of  the  newness  and  cheapness  of  its  lands,  Texas,  after  the 
war,  became  the  most  invdting  field  in  the  South  to  the  impover- 
ished cotton  planter,  particularly  to  the  small  and  thrifty  class 
of  planters.  Emigrants  poured  into  the  State,  and  from  a pro- 
duction of  245,000  bales  in  1866  the  crop  increased  to  1,105,000 
bales  in  1878,  which  placed  Texas  in  the  lead  as  a cotton  produc- 
ing State.  During  the  decade  1880-1890,  the  crop  increased  to 
1,594,000  bales,  and  in  the  next  decade,  1890-1900,  to  3,363,000. 

The  two  greatest  crops  produced  in  the  State  were  3,536,506 
bales  in  1900,  and  4,029,261  bales  in  1906. 

The  Mexican  boll-weevil,  which  is  believed  to  have  crossed 
the  Rio  Grande  river  in  the  vicinity  of  Brownsville  in  1892,  has 
spread  over  the  State  with  remarkable  rapidity.  In  1895  it  had 
made  its  way  200  miles  north  of  Brownsville,  in  1901,  500  miles, 
in  1903,  had  crossed  the  Louisiana  line,  and  in  1906,  the  Red 
river  into  Indian  Territory,  and  now  infests  every  county  except- 
ing a few  in  the  western  and  northwestern  sections  of  the  State. 

Cotton  culture  is  extending  with  great  rapidity  to  the  unset- 
tled western  counties,  and  it  will  not  be  very  many  years  before 
every  tillable  county  in  the  State  will  produce  more  or  less  of  this 
crop.  As  to  the  possibilities  of  cotton  culture  in  Texas  Governor 
Sayers,  in  1900,  made  the  statement  that  at  that  time  not  exceed- 
ing one-third,  if  so  much,  of  the  cotton  producing  area  was  then 
under  cultivation,  and  making  due  allowance  for  the  diversifica- 


214 


TEXAS 


tion  of  crops,  that  if  assurance  could  be  given  that  for  ten  years 
in  succession  the  price  of  cotton  at  the  gin  would  average  8 
cents  per  pound,  the  annual  product  of  the  State  would  within 
that  time  reach  fully  10,000,000  balesd 

The  Census  returns  for  1897  placed  the  area  under  cultivation 
at  2,178,000  acres,  while  the  estimate  of  the  Department  of 
Agriculture  for  1906  was  9,439,000  acres,  an  increase  of  7,261,000 
acres,  or  333  per  cent.  The  production  in  1879,  according  to 
the  Census,  was  805,000  bales  as  compared  with  4,029,000  in  1906, 
an  increase  of  3,224,000  bales  or  400  per  cent.  This  shows  an 
increase  in  production  during  this  period  of  67  per  cent,  more 
than  the  increase  in  area. 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  Texas,  1830-1839 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1830-31 

335 

1835-36 

3.599 

1831-32 

.541 

1836-37 

2,931 

1832-33 

1837-38 

3 935 

1833-34 

2,100 

1838-39 

4 922 

1834-35 

3,084 

1839-40 

6,970 

1831. — This  year  the  population  of  Texas  numbered  about 

20.000.  In  1834,  according  to  Almonte’s  Report  to  his  Govern- 
ment, the  number  at  each  settlement  was : Bexar,  2,400 ; San 
Patricio,  600;  Nacogdoches,  3,500;  Gonzales,  900;  Victoria,  300; 
Jonesborough,  2,000;  Goliad,  700;  San  Felipi,  2,500;  San  Augus- 
tine, 2,500;  Columbia,  2,100;  Liberty,  1,000;  Mina,  1,100;  total, 

21.000. 

The  crop  of  one  planter  on  the  Brazos  river,  who  had  93  acres 
under  cultivation,  consisted  of  80  bales  of  cotton,  2,000  bushels 
of  corn,  500  bushels  of  sweet  potatoes,  besides  other  articles  of 
minor  importance.  This  would  indicate  that  cotton  was  the  chief 
crop  of  the  new  emigrants. 

Edwin  Waller  sent  a schooner  load  of  cotton  from  the  mouth 
of  the  Brazos  to  Matamoras  this  year.  The  cotton  ( in  the  seed) 
sold  for  621/2  cents  per  pound.  Such  was  the  rapid  increase  in 
the  production  that  it  was  estimated  that  in  1834  the  crop  was 
sold  for  .$600,000. 


^ Future  Demand  for  American  Cotton.  (J.  L.  Watkins),  Dept,  of  Agriculture. 


KING  COTTON 


215 


One  of  the  Texas  historians  says;  “Cotton  planting  com- 
mences in  February  in  Texas,  and  picking  begins  at  an  earlier 
and  continues  for  a longer  period  than  in  the  United  States.  It 
has  been  noted  as  a remarkable  fact  in  North  Alabama,  that  a 
single  cotton  blossom  had  been  discovered  in  a field  as  early  as 
July  4.  In  the  same  year  between  June  25th  and  30th,  190 
blossoms  were  counted  upon  a single  stalk  of  cotton  on  the  Caney 
in  Texas.  Superior  cotton-growing  land  will  yield  from  1^/2 
to  2 bales  of  clean  cotton  to  the  acre.” 

1833.  — Upwards  of  2,000  bales  of  cotton,  weighing  from  400 
to  500  pounds  each,  were  exported  from  the  Brazos  river  during 
this  year.  At  this  time  cotton  was  exported  regularly  from 
Brazoria  to  New  Orleans,  where  it  paid  2i/^  cents  duty,  and 
realized  10  to  1014  cents  per  pound  for  the  exporter,  after  paying 
cost  of  transportation. 

The  citizens  of  Texas  held  a convention  at  San  Felipi,  at 
which  they  memorialized  the  Mexican  Congress  to  separate  Texas 
from  the  province  of  Coahuial,  to  which  it  had  been  annexed 
and  allow  it  a separate  state  government.  No  attention  was 
paid  to  the  memorial,  but  Col.  Joan  Almonte  was  sent  by 
President  Santa  Anna  to  visit  Texas  and  make  a report  as  to 
its  condition,  etc. 

1834.  — Cotton-worms  appeared  for  the  first  time  and  injured 
the  crop.  They  were  said  to  have  been  introduced  from  a boat- 
load of  cotton  seed  brought  from  New  Orleans 

In  a report  to  the  Mexican  government  Col.  Joan  Almonte 
said : “There  will  be  exported  during  this  year  about  2,000 
bales  of  cotton  from  the  Nacogdoches  Department.  There  .are 
machines  for  cleaning  and  pressing  cotton  in  the  Departments  of 
Nacogdoches  and  the  Brazos.” 

This  year  the  population  was  estimated  at  36,000,  of  which 
15,300  were  Indians. 

1835.  — On  the  27th  of  November  the  financial  committee  that 
made  a report  to  the  Provisional  government  on  the  resources 
of  Texas  estimated  the  export  of  cotton  at  60,000  bales.  (The 
estimate  was  undoubtedly  exaggerated.) 

1836.  — ^On  account  of  the  war  with  Mexico  for  Texas  hide- 


216 


TEXAS 


pendence,  the  people  about  this  time  raised  comparatively  little 
cotton,  or  crops  of  any  kind. 

Texas  was  declared  an  independent  Republic  this  year. 

1837. — During  the  latter  months  of  the  year  a large  number 
of  immigrants  came  into  the  country.  They  brought  with  them 
substantial  means  and  industrious  habits.  Lands  had  risen  in 
value  so  that  Texas  was  in  a prosperous  condition.  During  the 
year  her  farmers  had  made  good  crops,  that  of  cotton  alone  being 
estimated  at  50,000  bales  and  worth  at  the  selling  prices, 
$2,000,000. 

The  first  steamboat  that  visited  Houston  was  the  "Laura,” 
in  January  of  this  year. 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  Texas,  1S40-1849 


Year  ■ 

Total  Crop 

Y ear 

Total  Crop 

1840-41 

7,941 

13,237 

15,328 

18,170 

25,879 

1845-46 

27.008 

18,317 

40,000 

50,183 

58,072 

1841-42 

1846-47 

1842-43 

1847-48  

1843-44 

1848-49 

1844-45 

1849-50 

1843.  — This  year  15,328  bales  of  Texas  grown  cotton  were 
marketed  at  New  Orleans. 

The  crops  were  injured  by  floods. 

A.  M.  Hanna  reported  making  a crop  of  51  bales  (Dean 
variety),  500  pounds  to  the  bale,  1,800  pounds  to  the  acre,  and 
17  bales  to  each  hand,  on  70  acres  of  black  prairie  land. 

1844.  — Z.  P.  Walker,  of  Wharton  county,  reported  the 
highest  yield  of  cotton  in  his  county,  on  the  best  alluvial  and 
cane  lands,  at  3 bales  to  the  acre,  of  500  pounds  each,  but  on 
account  of  high  winds  and  rains  the  average  yield  was  reduced 
to  11/2  bales  gathered  to  the  acre. 

1845.  — The  caterpillar  and  boll-worm  caused  great  destruc- 
tion to  the  crop. 

An  event  that  has  had  the  most  important  bearing  upon  the 
future  cotton  supply,  occurred  during  this  crop  year.  On  Decem- 
ber 22,  the  Republic  of  Texas  was  formally  admitted  into  and 
became  one  of  the  United  States. 

1846.  — The  caterpillar  made  its  appearance  very  early  this 


MARKETING  COTTON  AT  WACO.  TEXAS. 
Courtesy  of  W.  J.  Neale.  W aco,  Texas. 


KING  COTTON 


217 


year  and  caused  more  damage  than  ever.  They  made  great 
havoc  in  the  coast  counties,  but  the  inland  counties  did  not  suffer 
so  much.  Walker,  however,  and  some  of  the  surrounding 
counties,  lost  from  50  to  60  per  cent,  of  the  crop. 

1847.  — A contributor  to  De  Bow's  Review  estimated  that  the 
area  planted  this  year  in  cotton  in  Brazoria  county  was  7,054 
acres,  and  the  yield  500  pounds  of  lint  cotton  to  the  acre,  worth, 
at  10  cents  per  pound,  $352,700. 

The  acreage  in  cotton  was  greatly  increased ; in  some  counties 
as  much  as  one-third,  in  others  one-half,  while  300  or  more  bales 
were  mentioned  as  the  first  crop  raised  in  some  counties. 

The  crop  of  Jasper  county  was  estimated  by  John  Frazer 
at  582  bales  of  500  pounds  each.  Seed  cotton  was  worth  2 cents 
a pound. 

1848.  — The  varieties  of  seed  most  commonly  in  use  were  the 
Mexican  and  Mastodon. 

S.  W.  Kellogg  made  the  following  estimate  of  yield  in  each 
of  the  counties  named : Brazos,  245  ; Robertson,  225  ; Leon,  600, 
and  Limestone,  700  bales  of  500  pounds  each. 

1849.  — Frosts  about  the  middle  of  April  resulted  in  much 
damage  to  the  young  plants. 

Colorado  county  reported  to  the  Census  the  highest  total 
production  of  any  county  in  the  State,  4,771  bales  of  400  pounds 
each. 

At  this  period  a large  amount  of  cotton  produced  in  the  State 
found  its  way  to  the  New  Orleans  market,  via  Red  river.  This 
was  the  usual  route  to  market  prior  to  the  building  of  the  trunk 
line  railroads  in  the  ’70’s. 

Early  cotton  was  in  blossom  about  ]\Iay  20th.  It  began  to 
open  generally  about  August  1,  though  much  was  open  and  ready 
to  pick  before  that  time.  The  usual  time  of  picking  among 
planters  generally  was  about  August  10th,  on  bottom  lands  and 
earlier  on  uplands.  Eight  bales  per  hand  weighing  500  pounds 
each  was  about  the  average  on  well-managed  plantations.  Bottom 
lands  averaged  2,000  pounds  or  more  to  the  acre,  uplands  12  to 
1,400  pounds  to  the  acre.  Ten  bales  may  be  made  and  gathered 
by  each  hand,  and  sometimes  more  was  raised.  The  season  for 


218 


TEXAS 


gathering  cotton  was  from  3 to  4 weeks  longer  in  Texas  than 
in  Alabama. 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  Texas,  1850-1859 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1850-51 

65,727 

78,598 

100,553 

132,116 

125,427 

1855-56 

139,679 

107,385 

174,882 

259,974 

431,463 

1851- 52 

1852- 58 

18.56-57 

1857-58.  .. 

1853-54 

1858-59 

1854-55 

1859-60 

1850.  — Frank  H.  Clark  gave  the  yield  of  Red  river  bottom 
cotton  lands  at  1,600  to  2,000  pounds  of  lint  per  acre.  S.  G.  Par- 
sons estimated  the  average  yield  per  acre  in  the  upper  Trinity 
river  country  at  a 500-pound  bale  to  the  acre. 

1851.  — Edward  Dougherty,  in  a report  to  the  Commissioner  of 
Patents  (from  Cameron  count}^,  said:  “Cotton  was  formerly 
cultivated  in  this  valley,  but  the  advent  of  the  American  army 
here,  in  1846,  was  the  cause  of  all  agricultural  operations  being 
suspended.  Cotton  has  not  been  cultivated  since,  although 
several  planters  will  renew  its  cultivation  this  year.” 

The  Hogan  variety  was  reported  as  yielding  1,788  pounds  per 
acre  in  San  Augustine  county,  whereas,  the  Petit  Gulf  planted 
on  the  same  kind  of  soil  yielded  but  1,300  pounds  of  seed  cotton. 

The  yield  of  Wharton  county  was  reported  as  a bale  of  500 
pounds  to  the  acre.  The  question  was,  not  how  much  per  acre, 
but  how  much  per  hand.  The  general  opinion  was  that  the 
average  per  hand  was  8 bales. 

The  average  yield  in  Guadelupe  county  was  reported  to 
be  400  pounds  of  clean  cotton  per  acre,  and  the  average  for 
Colorado  county,  350  pounds. 

1852.  — The  crops  were  badly  damaged  by  floods.  For  the 
first  time  the  crop  this  year  exceeded  100,000  bales. 

The  Galveston  News  stated  that  D.  W.  Quarles,  whose  plan- 
tation was  on  Oyster  Creek,  P)razoria  county,  had  made  this 
season  on  160  acres  of  land,  with  12  hands,  400  bales  of  cotton. 

1854. — The  Galveston.  Houston  & Henderson  R.  R.,  from 
Galveston  to  Houston  (50  miles),  was  chartered  in  1848  and 
completed  in  1854. 


KING  COTTON 


219 


1858.  — The  crop  for  the  first  time  exceeded  200,000  bales. 

1859.  — The  Census  gave  San  Augustine  county  the  highest 
total  production  of  any  county  in  the  State,  31,342  bales  of 
400  pounds  each. 

Cotton  grown  by  Germans  attracted  attention  in  Liverpool. 
In  a review  of  the  cotton  supply  of  the  world,  in  Ure’s  “Cotton 
Manufacture”  is  the  following:  “Last  of  all,  but  not  least  in 
importance,  are  16  bales  of  free  grown  cotton  from  Texas,  which 
was  sold  at  7%d.  per  pound.  We  sincerely  trust  that  the 
German  emigrants  who  produced  them,  may  be  stimulated  to 
increase  their  crops  a thousand  fold.” 

The  crop  exceeded  for  the  first  time  400,000  bales. 

There  was  one  cotton  mill  in  the  State  operating  2,700 
spindles  that  consumed  1,278  bales  of  cotton. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consu.mption  of  Cotton  in 
Texas,  1860-1869 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1860-61 

Bales 

308,314 

Bales 

1,505 

No  data 

No  data 

1861-62 

No  data 

No  data 

do 

do 

1862-63 

do 

do 

do 

do 

1863-64 

do 

do 

do 

do 

1864-65 

do 

do 

do 

do 

1865-66 

do 

do 

do 

do 

1866-67 

247,837 

1,870 

do 

do 

1867-68 

206,354 

2,108 

do 

do 

1868-69 

267,436 

2,040 

do 

do 

1869-70 

350,628 

2,448 

4 

8,878 

1860.  — A patent  was  granted  to  S.  Z.  Hall,  for  a gin  feeder 
and  to  S.  r.  Sweeney  for  a cotton  planter. 

There  were  at  this  time  307  miles  of  railway  in  operation  in 
the  State. 

1861.  — Texas  and  also  Mississippi  and  North  Carolina,  fol- 
lowed the  example  of  the  Confederate  government  in  issuing 
bonds  on  the  security  of  cotton  obtained  in  exchange  for  the 
bonds,  or  by  the  issue  of  State  treasury  notes.  Her  cotton  bonds 
were  made  payable  from  6 to  12  years  “after  the  close  of  the 
war,”  and  the  interest  of  one  issue  was  made  payable  in  specie 
one  year  after  its  close.  One  of  the  objects  of  this  legislation 
was  to  supply  the  planters  with  a “sound  circulating  medium.” 


220 


TEXAS 


1862. — The  San  Antonio  & Alexican  Gulf  R.  R.,  from  Port 
Lavaca  to  Indianola,  25  miles,  was  opened  this  year. 

1866.  — The  tax  on  cotton  collected  by  the  Federal  govern- 
ment was  $1,395,524. 

Considerable  damage  was  done  this  year  by  the  caterpillar. 
Goliad  county  reported  almost  a total  loss.  The  loss  in  the 
State  was  said  to  amount  to  about  40  per  cent. 

1867.  — The  caterpillar  was  very  destructive  this  year.  In 
Colorado  and  Fayette  counties  their  damage  was  greater  than 
ever  experienced.  There  was  almost  a complete  failure  of  the 
crop  in  Red  River  county. 

The  tax  on  cotton  collected  by  the  Federal  Government  was 
$2,780,307.  In  1868  it  was  $1,326,570. 

1868.  — The  caterpillar  damaged  the  crop,  but  not  so  badly  as 
in  1867. 

1869.  — The  Census  returns  showed  a larger  yield  in  Wash- 
ington than  any  other  county  in  the  State,  its  total  production 
being  22,452  bales. 

There  were  2 cotton  mills  in  the  State  operating  1,716 
spindles. 

At  this  time  the  region  of  cotton  cultivation  extended  nearly 
half-way  across  the  the  State,  from  east  to  west,  and  embraced  in 
its  limits  about  108,000  square  miles,  or  about  41  per  cent,  of 
the  land  area.  A line  marking  its  western  limit  would  pass 
southward  from  Red  river,  through  the  counties  of  Montague, 
Wise,  Parker,  Erath  and  Hamilton  to  Atascosa,  and  thence  east- 
ward to  Matagorda  county. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Texas,  1870-1879 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1870-71 

Bales 

400,000 

Bales 

2,730 

No  data 

No  data 

1871-72 

280,000 

3,600 

do 

do 

1872-73 

495,000 

4,192 

do 

do 

1873-74 

500,000 

2,755 

4 

10,225 

1874-75 

535,000 

351 

No  data 

No  data 

1875-76 

690,000 

228 

do 

do 

1876-77 

7.35,000 

216 

do 

do 

1877-78 

610,000 

257 

do 

do 

1878-79.  

1,105,1.33 

360 

do 

do 

1879-80 

805,284 

246 

2 

2,648 

KING  COTTON 


221 


1870. — The  crops  of  cotton  were  very  large  in  1869-70,  not- 
withstanding the  floods. 

There  were  711  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this  year. 

D.  ]\I.  IvIcRae  of  Weberville  was  granted  a patent  for  a 
cotton-picking  machine  consisting  of  guards,  saws  and  brushing 
drums. 

1872.  — Considerable  damage  was  caused  by  the  ravages  of 
the  caterpillar. 

The  International  & Great  Northern  R.  R.,  from  Longview 
to  Houston  (236  miles),  was  chartered  in  1870  and  completed 
in  December. 

A bale  of  cotton  produced  in  Dallas  county  and  weighing 
39'4  pounds  was  received  at  Galveston,  July  16,  and  from  thence 
shipped  to  New  Orleans.  It  was  sold  in  Galveston  for  93  cents 
per  pound,  gold,  which  with  the  $200  premium  paid  by  Galveston 
factors,  would  make  about  $625  received  by  the  producer  for  the 
394  pounds. 

1873.  — The  Missouri,  Kansas  & Texas  R.  R.  was  completed 
to  Denison  January  1. 

The  destruction  caused  by  the  cotton  worm  this  year,  was 
perhaps  the  most  serious  on  record.  In  Atacosa  county  they  ate 
up  the  third  planting  of  cotton,  the  grasshoppers  having  destroyed 
the  first  two.  The  destruction  was  pretty  general  throughout 
the  State. 

The  Houston  & Texas  Central  R.  R.,  from  Houston  to  Red 
River  City  (343  miles),  was  chartered  in  1848,  opened  to  Hemp- 
stead, 50  miles,  in  1865 ; to  Millican,  80  miles,  in  1866 ; to  Bryan, 
99  miles,  in  1867 ; to  Calvert,  128  miles,  in  1868 ; to  Bremond, 
142  miles,  in  1869  ; to  Groesbeck,  170  miles,  in  1870 ; to  Corsi- 
cana, 211  miles,  in  1871,  and  completed  to  the  Red  River,  March 
11,  1873. 

The  crop  this  year  for  the  first  time  reached  500,000  bales. 

1874.  — The  St.  Louis,  Iron  Mt.  & Southern  R.  R.,  from 
Texarkana  to  St.  Louis  (490  miles),  was  completed  this  year. 

1875.  — The  Texas  & Pacific  R.  R.  was  organized  in  1871  and 
built  as  follows;  from  Longview  to  Dallas,  124  miles,  in  1873; 
to  Fort  Worth  in  1876,  to  Texarkana  in  1876,  and  to  Paris  and 
Sherman  in  1875.  The  New  Orleans  division  was  opened 
October  15,  1882. 


TEXAS 


ooo 


The  crop  exceeded  for  the  first  time  600,000  bales. 

A planter  of  Dallas  county  reported  raising  700  bales  on  700 
acres. 

1876. — The  caterpillars  appeared  in  force  much  later  this 
year,  but  were  sufficiently  early  to  do  considerable  damage. 

For  the  first  time  the  crop  exceeded  700,000  bales. 

Before  the  Civil  War  white  labor  produced  only  10  per  cent, 
of  the  cotton  crop ; in  1883,  44  per  cent. ; in  1884,  48  per  cent. ; 
and  in  1885,  over  50  per  cent.  In  1876  it  was  estimated  that  in 
Texas  62  per  cent,  of  the  labor  engaged  in  cotton  culture  was 
white  and  38  per  cent,  black,  and  in  all  the  cotton  States  40  per 
cent,  was  white  and  60  per  cent,  black. 

The  use  of  double  plows  and  sulky  cultivators  was  reported 
to  be  extending  on  the  large  plantations ; that  cotton  planters 
were  coming  into  use  and  that  wherever  white  labor  predomi- 
nated. labor-saving  machinery  was  being  introduced. 

1877.  — Immense  damage  was  done  this  year  by  the  cotton- 
worm,  particularly  in  the  southern  part  of  the  State.  In  Lavaca 
county  the  bulk  of  the  crop  was  destroyed,  and  in  Gonzales 
county,  75  per  cent.  The  Department  of  Agriculture  estimated 
the  loss  in  Texas,  Louisiana  and  a few  other  States  at  $15,000,000. 

An  unusual  amount  of  rainfall  during  the  early  summer. 

The  Galveston,  Harrisburg  & San  Antonio  R.  R.,  now  the 
Southern  Pacific,  from  Harrisburg  to  San  Antonio  (214  miles), 
was  opened  March  1. 

A patent  was  obtained  by  C.  E.  Graves,  of  Galveston,  for  a 
cotton  picker  consisting  of  horizontal  rods  with  spirally  arranged 
steel  wire  brushes. 

1878.  — For  the  first  time  the  crop  exceeded  a million  bales. 

The  Corpus  Christi,  San  Diego  & Rio  Grande  R.  R.,  now 

the  Southern  Pacific,  from  Corpus  Christi  to  Eagle  Pass  (200 
miles),  was  chartered  in  1875  and  completed  April  30. 

1879.  — The  Department  of  Agriculture  estimated  the  loss 
from  cotton-worms,  from  1875  to  1878,  inclusive,  at  525,000 
bales. 

According  to  the  Census,  Fayette  county  produced  the  largest 
crop,  24,766  bales,  and  Bowie  returned  the  highest  yield  per 
acre,  .69  of  a bale. 


KING  COTTON 


223 


There  were  12  cotton  oil  mills  in  the  State. 

The  first  bale  of  new  cotton  received  at  Houston  was  on 
July  9,  and  was  ginned  by  Mrs.  Hausman  of  De  Witt  county. 
Thomas  Field,  the  Agricultural  Department’s  correspondent  for 
Victoria  county,  said  that  she  also  ginned  the  first  new  bale  in 
1866,  1867  and  1868. 

A line  marking  the  limit  of  cotton  production  would  at  this 
time  pass  from  Red  River,  in  Wichita  county,  southwest  to 
Jones  and  Taylor,  and  south  through  Coleman,  McCulloch, 
Mason,  Kerr,  Bandera  and  Uvalde  to  the  Nueces  river,  which  it 
would  follow  nearly  to  the  Gulf,  thence  turning  northwest  to  the 
northwest  corner  of  Calhoun  county.  This  region  included  an 
area  of  about  126,000  square  miles,  or  not  one-half  the  land  area 
of  the  State,  and  extending  nearly  100  miles  farther  west  and 
embracing  18,430  square  miles  more  than  in  1869. 


CoMMERCi.vL  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Texas,  1880-1889 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1880-81 

Bales 

1.224.162 

Bales 

248 

No  data 

No  data 

1881-82 

855,000 

317 

do 

do 

1882-83 

1,326,000 

154 

do 

do 

1883-84 

1,118,000 

172 

do 

do 

1884-85 

995,400 

158 

do 

do 

1885-86 

1,332,027 

189 

do 

do 

1886-87 

1,499,698 

180 

1 

2.108 

1887-88 

1,584,131 

300 

1 

2,108 

1888-89 

1 ,594,305 

1,935 

2 

9,456 

1889-90 

1,471,242 

3,.301 

1 

12,056 

1880. — The  celebrated  Texas  Storm  Proof  cotton  was  orie- 
mated  about  this  time  by  IV.  J.  Smilie,  of  Baileyville. 

The  Chicago,  Rock  Island  & Pacific  R.  R.,  from  Terrell 
to  Herington,  Kansas  (349  miles),  was  completed  about  this 
time. 

Houston's  first  new  bale  of  cotton  received  on  July  12,  was 
raised  in  De  Witt  county. 

There  were  3,244  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this  year. 

The  Texas  & New  Orleans  R.  R.,  from  Houston  to  Orange, 
now  the  Southern  Pacific,  was  built  in  1861  and  dismantled  in 


224 


TEXAS 


1865,  rebuilt  and  equipped  in  August,  1880 — connecting  Houston 
and  New  Orleans. 

1881.  — The  first  bale  of  new  cotton  received  at  Houston, 
July  9,  was  sent  from  De  Whtt  county. 

The  Texas  Alexican  Ry.,  from  Corpus  Christ!  to  Laredo  (165 
miles),  was  chartered  in  1875  and  opened  during  this  year. 

The  Gulf,  Colorado  & Santa  Fe  R.  R.,  from  Galveston  to 
Purcell,  I.  T.  (518  miles),  was  chartered  in  1873  and  completed 
in  1881.  The  Ft.  Worth  branch  was  completed  December  8. 

Boll-worms  destroyed  22,472  bales  of  cotton  as  estimated  by 
the  Department  of  Agriculture. 

In  a speech  delivered  in  the  U.  S.  Senate  (1881),  Senator 
Morrill  said; — “The  Southern  States  in  the  production  of  cotton, 
have  possibl}-  already  reached  the  maximum  quantity  that  can  be 
cultivated  with  the  greatest  profit,  unless  the  demand  of  the  world 
expands.  A short  crop  now  often  brings  producers  a larger  sum 
than  a full  crop.  The  amount  of  the  surplus  sent  abroad  deter- 
mines the  price  of  the  whole  crop.  Production  appears  likely 
soon  to  outrun  the  demand.  Texas  alone  has  latent  power  to 
overstock  the  world.”  Governor  Sayers,  in  1901,  stated  that 
Texas  could  produce  10,000,000  bales  if  all  its  available  cotton 
lands  were  brought  under  cultivation. 

1882.  — In  the  midst  of  otherwise  very  favorable  conditions 
the  cotton-worm  appeared  in  August  in  all  of  the  Gulf  States. 
The  boll-worm  appeared  somewhat  later  in  northern  Texas, 
where  it  attracted  considerable  attention.  In  the  latter  part  of 
the  season  a great  abundance  of  rain,  generally  distributed  over 
the  cotton  belt,  caused  the  plants  to  put  on  such  rank  growth 
that  the  stripping  of  the  leaves  by  the  cotton-worm  became  a 
positive  advantage  to  the  plants,  consequently,  the  boll-worm 
became  bv  far  the  most  destructive  insect  of  the  year.  Its 
damage  was  practically  confined  to  Texas,  Louisiana  and 
Alabama. 

The  New  York.  Texas  & Mexican  Ry.,  now  the  Southern 
Pacific,  from  Rosenburg  to  Victoria  (92  miles),  was  chartered  in 
1880  and  completed  yanuar\  9. 

The  Austin  & Northwestern  R.  R.,  from  Austin!  to  Burnet 
(60  miles),  was  chartered  in  1881  and  opened  January  1. 


KING  COTTON 


225 


1883.  — The  crops  in  some  counties  suffered  from  depreda- 
tions of  the  cotton-worm.  This  insect  also  made  its  appearance 
in  1885,  hut  the  damage  to  the  crops  was  insignificant. 

The  Fort  Worth  & Denver  City  Ry.,  was  completed  to 
Wichita  fi'aHs  September  24. 

A machine  consisting  of  a frame,  a series  of  alternating  long 
and  short  toothed  belts,  a pair  of  clearing-brushes,  a pair  of 
receiving  boxes  and  a driving  mechanism,  was  patented  by  J.  and 
J.  E.  iMyers,  of  Palestine.  Texas,  and  designed  for  picking  cotton. 

The  Texas  & St.  Louis  R.  R.,  now  the  St.  Louis  South- 
western, wa.s  organized  in  1879',  and  opened  to  Trinity  (181 
miles),  towards  the  close  of  1880,  extended  to  Corsicana  in  1881, 
to  Waco  in  1881,  Gatesville  in  1882,  and  was  formally  opened 
for  business  August  12. 

The  first  bale  of  new  cotton  received  at  Houston  on  July  8, 
was  ginned  by  iMrs.  Hausmann,  of  De  \\’itt  county. 

1884.  — Houston’s  first  bale  of  cotton  was  received  from  De 
Witt  county  on  July  22.  It  was  sold  for  tf;510  and  sent  to  the 
Cotton  Centennial  Exposition  at  New  Orleans.  The  first  new 
bale  the  year  following  was  received  on  the  same  date  and  was 
raised  in  the  same  county. 

1885.  — The  Kansas  & Gulf  Short  Line  R.  R.,  now  the  St. 
Louis  Southwestern,  from  Tyler  to  Lufkin  (95  miles),  was  char- 
tered in  1880  and  completed  July  1. 

The  Houston.  East  & WTst  Texas  R.  R..  from  Houston  to 
Shreveport,  232  miles,  was  chartered  in  1875  and  completed  to 
Shreveport  this  year. 

Drought  in  August  injured  the  crop. 

1886.  — The  first  bale  of  new  cotton  received  at  Houston  was 
on  July  19.  from  A’ictoria  countv. 

The  Eort  Worth  & New  Orleans  R.  R..  now  a part  of 
the  Southern  Pacific  System,  from  Waxahatchie  to  Et.  Worth 
(42  miles),  was  organized  in  1885  and  completed  Julv  15. 

1887.  — De  \\’itt  county  sent  the  first  new  bale  of  cotton  to 
Houston,  where  it  was  received  on  the  6th  of  July. 

The  crop  exceeded  a million  and  a half  bales. 

The  crop  suff'ered  to  a greater  extent  from  insect  pests  than 
for  several  years.  Comanche,  Erath,  Parker  and  IMasoii  counties 

15 


226 


TEXAS 


were  most  concerned,  while  from  Lamp'asas,  Morris,  Kaufman, 
Stephens  and  Grimes  frequent  reports  of  considerable  injury  were 
received. 

The  St.  Louis  & San  Francisco  R.  R.,  from  Ft.  Smith,  Ark., 
to  Paris  (169  miles)  was  opened  for  traffic  July  1.  The  company 
began  building  its  extension  from  Sapulpa,  I.  T.  in  1900. 

This  season  the  boll-worm  attracted  attention  in  a few  coun- 
ties, notably  Ellis,  Lamar,  Rains,  and  Van  Zandt,  where  cotton 
had  been  planted  but  a few  years  and  the  practice  of  using 
poisons  had  not  become  established. 

1888.  — Ten  tons  of  Texas  cotton  seed  were  shipped  this  year 
to  the  Germ.an  East  African  Colonization  Society,  Zanzibar, 
Africa. 

The  first  new  bale  was  received  at  Houston  from  De  Witt 
county  on  July  19th. 

1889.  — The  first  new  bale  at  Houston  was  received  July  22, 
from  De  Witt  county; 

Census  returns  show  that  Ellis  county  had  both  the  largest 
acreage  and  the  largest  total  production,  viz : 103,629  acres, 

and  42,701  bales. 

Estimates  of  damage  by  boll-worm  equal  to  40  per  cent,  of 
the  crop,  were  sent  in  from  a large  number  of  counties  in  the 
central  and  northern  portions  of  the  State. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Texas,  1890-1899 


Year 


1890- 91 . 

1891- 92. 

1892- 9.3, 
189.3-94, 
1894-9.5, 
189.5-96, 

1896- 97. 

1897- 98. 

1898- 99, 

1899- 00. 


Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

Bales 

Bales 

1,708,000 

7.4.50 

3 

27,576 

2„309,543 

9,164 

4 

29,652 

2,016,855 

10,943 

5 

.33,860 

1,997,000 

10,0.50 

5 

32,116 

3,140,392 

12,576 

5 

40,420 

1,905„337 

12, .385 

5 

35,560 

2,122,701 

12,499 

4 

35,560 

2,822,408 

14,312 

4. 

27,720 

3, .363, 109 

17,156 

5 

35,160 

2,658,5,55  ' 

16,868 

6 

60,876 

1890. — There  were  8,710  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this 
year. 

The  first  new  bale  at  Houston  was  received  July  25,  from 


KING  COTTON 


227 


Gonzales  county.  It  was  sold  for  $110  and  then  donated  to  the 
Bayland  Orphan  Home.  It  was  afterwards  sold  in  St.  Louis  for 
$575  and  then  shipped  and  sold  in  Chicago,  and  finally  netted 
the  Orphan  Home  about  $2,000. 

1891.  — The  first  new  bale  at  Houston  was  received  from  De 
^^’itt  county  on  July  7th. 

The  Fort  Worth  & Rio  Grande  R.  R.,  from  Fort  Worth  to 
Brownwood  (143  miles),  was  chartered  in  1885  and  completed 
in  July. 

For  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  Galveston  the  receipts  of 
cotton  during  any  one  season  exceeded  1,000,000  bales.  On  July 
11,  of  this  year  its  cotton  exchange  commemorated  the  event 
with  a bancpiet. 

1892.  — The  Mexican  boll-weevil,  it  is  believed,  crossed  the  Rio 
Grande  this  year  in  the  vicinity  of  Brownsville.  In  1894  it  had 
spread  to  half  a dozen  counties  in  the  extreme  southwestern 
section  of  the  State. 

A new  port,  at  Velasco,  was  opened  this  year  and  3,753  bales 
of  cotton  were  exported  thence  to  Liverpool. 

Cut-worms  in  Travis  county  caused  more  trouble  than  was 
ever  known  by  these  insects.  In  1893  the  damage  from  the 
boll-worm  seemed  to  culminate  in  the  valleys  of  the  southern 
portion  of  the  State.  In  this  region  Delta  county  reported  that 
this  insect  had  completely  ruined  the  crop  in  some  sections,  while 
Panola,  Shelby  and  Van  Zandt  counties  attributed  the  greatest 
damage  for  years  to  this  source. 

1893.  — The  Chicago,  Rock  Island  & Texas  R.  R.,  from  Terrell 
to  Ft.  \Vorth  (92  miles),  and  from  Bridgeport  to  Jackson  (28 
miles),  was  chartered  in  1892,  the  main  line  opened  in  July,  1893, 
and  the  branch  line  September,  1898. 

The  crop  was  seriously  injured  by  drought  and  insects  in 
the  central  and  northern  counties. 

The  State  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  issued  a circular, 
calling  a convention  of  planters  to  meet  at  TVustin  (March  10), 
for  the  purpose  of  bringing  about  a reduction  of  the  cotton 
acreage.  The  Austin  Convention  met  and  adopted  resolutions  to 
this  effect.  Among  other  things  the  resolutions  said : — “We  feel 


228 


TEXAS 


a sense  of  shame  when  we  learn  from  our  Commissioner  of 
Agriculture  that  the  State  consumed  in  1891,  22,660,336  pounds 
of  bacon,  2,295,159  pounds  of  lard,  2,554,699  bushels  of  corn,  and 
1,382,518  gallons  of  syrup  more  than  we  produced.”  Planters 
were  urged  to  “blot  out  this  reproach”  by  raising  their  own 
supplies. 

The  Dallas  Commercial  Club  was  organized  May  2. 

In  answer  to  one  of  the  questions  of  the  United  States  Senate 
Committee  on  Agriculture,  Moritz  Maedgen  made  this  statement: 
“There  is  a very  noticeable  difference  in  the  prosperity  of  those 
cotton  planters  who  do,  and  those  who  do  not,  raise  their  own 
supplies,  which  difference  is  all  in  favor  of  those  who  raise  as 
nearly  as  possible  all  they  need  for  home  consumption.  The 
greater  prosperity  of  those  raising  home  supplies  is  traceable  to 
two  causes.  One  is  the  saving  of  that  part  of  the  proceeds  of 
the  money  crop,  that  would  otherwise  have  to  be  spent  for  sup- 
plies, and  the  other  is  a higher  degree  of  forethought  and  a better 
understanding  as  well  as  appreciation,  though  unconsciously, 
perhaps,  of  economic  facts  applied  to  all  operations  of  the  farm.” 
To  the  same  committee,  I.  A.  Wimbish,  of  De  Witt  county, 
stated  that  of  all  causes  contributing  to  the  financial  depression 
of  the  cotton-raiser,  the  want  of  reliable  labor  is,  perhaps,  the 
most  important  and  the  most  difficult  to  remedy.  The  lands  are 
mainly  cultivated  by  negro  labor  on  tbe  share  system,  the  land- 
owner  furnishing  the  land,  teams,  tools  and  forage  for  teams,  the 
crop  being  equally  divided.  The  negro  laborer,  notwithstanding 
he  gets  one-half  the  crop,  and  is  subjected  to  no  expense,  will, 
upon  an  average,  not  work  more  than  four  hours  per  day,  nor 
more  than  three  days  per  week. 

1894. — The  Corsicana  Commercial  Club  was  organized  this 
year. 

Of  the  31  varieties  of  cotton  planted  at  the  State  Experiment 
Station  some  of  those  showing  the  highest  yield  of  lint  per  acre 
were,  in  the  order  named : Peterkin,  Sure  Emit,  Welborn’s  Pet, 
Peeler,  King’s  Improved,  Coltharp’s  Eureka,  etc. 

The  earliest  receipt  to  date  of  a new  bale  at  Houston  was 
on  the  26th  of  June  from  Duval  county.  It  was  sold  for  $235 
and  shipped  to  New  York. 


KING  COTTON 


229 


This  year,  the  fact  that  there  was  no  special  injury  by  insects 
of  any  description,  undoubtedly  contributed  considerably  to  the 
production  of  the  largest  crop  ever  raised  up  to  this  time.  An 
agent  of  the  division  of  Entomology  of  the  Department  of  Agri- 
culture made  a trip  through  the  important  parts  of  the  cotton  belt, 
from  Texas  to  Alabama,  and  reported  that  to  the  middle  of 
August  there  were  no  cotton-worms  present  anywhere  except  in 
the  bottom  lands  of  extreme  southern  Texas,  and  even  there 
the  worms  were  not  found  in  large  numbers.  But  however 
uneventful  this  season  was,  as  far  as  the  old  and  well-known 
insect  enemies  of  cotton  were  concerned,  it  is  noticeable  because 
of  the  fact  that  at  this  time  the  insect  that  will  undoubtedly 
eventually  become  more  important  than  any  of  the  others,  the 
Mexican  cotton  boll-weevil,  began  its  invasion  of  the  cotton  fields 
of  Texas. 

1895. — The  first  new  bale  at  Houston  was  received  from 
Victoria  county,  July  21. 

The  Mexican  boll-weevil  attracts  great  attention  in  the  south- 
western part  of  the  State.  Besides  numerous  definite  statements, 
many  reports  of  injury  by  sharpshooters  in  that  region  doubtless 
referred  to  this  insect. 

In  January  of  this  year  the  Galveston  Cotton  Exchange  called 
the  attention  of  planters  to  the  “ragged  and  disgraceful”  condi- 
tion in  which  cotton  was  sent  to  market.  The  cause  of  this  was 
attributed  to  the  fact  that  public  ginners  were  offering  to  gin 
cotton  for  the  seed,  and  furnishing  bagging  and  ties  free  to  the 
planter  patronizing  them,  and  this  in  turn  resulted  in  the  ginner 
using  the  cheapest  light-weight  bagging.  The  Galveston 
Exchange  passed  resolutions  that  from  and  after  September  1, 
185'5,  all  bales  covered  with  less  than  six  yards  of  14-inch  bag- 
ging,  of  a lighter  weight  than  21/4  pounds,  the  minimum  per 
yard,  should  be  declared  unmerchantable,  unless  recovered 
properly  at  the  expense  of  the  seller. 

1896.  — The  Department  of  Agriculture  ascertained  the 
average  cost  of  cotton  production  this  year  to  be  5.38  cents  per 
pound. 

The  drought  beginning  early  in  September  had  the  effect  of 


230 


TEXAS 


preventing-  the  maturing  of  the  fall  broods  of  the  Mexican  boll- 
weevil,  which,  consequently,  did  not  extend  its  range  to  any 
noticeable  extent. 

The  first  new  bale  at  Houston  was  received  this  year  on  July 
16th,  and  the  year  following  just  one  day  later,  and  in  1899 
on  the  same  date. 

The  Kansas  City  Southern  Ry.,  from  Kansas  City  to  Port 
Arthur  (786  miles)  was  completed  June  1. 

There  was  the  usual  complaint  of  cut-worms  and  lice,  but 
otherwise  no  special  attention  was  attracted  by  any  insects  except 
the  Mexican  boll-weevil.  This  pest  was  at  this  time  beginning 
to  invade  some  of  the  most  productive  cotton  lands  in  the  United 
States,  consequently,  though  as  yet  only  a local  problem,  the 
prospects  for  its  future  spread  caused  considerable  alarm. 

The  Texas  Midland  R.  R.,  from  Ennis  to  Paris  (124  miles), 
was  completed  October  26. 

The  Texas,  Sabine  Valley  & Northwestern  Ry.,  projected 
from  Sabine  Pass  to  Red  nver,  was  completed  from  Longview 
to  Boren  during  this  year. 

A patent  for  a cotton-harvester  was  obtained  by  Charles  H. 
Pickering,  of  Houston,  the  pickers  being  arranged  on  a rotary 
cylinder.  The  following  year  (1897)  a patent  was  granted  to 
Peter  P.  Haring,  of  Goliad,  for  a cotton-picking  machine,  the 
pickers  consisting  of  irippers  fixed  upon  radial  arms  attached  to 
a revolving  drum. 

1897. — “The  Texas  Cotton  Ginners  Association”  effected  an 
organization  at  Waco  January  25,  the  purpose  being  to  advance 
the  interest  of  cotton  ginning,  and  to  secure  the  enactment  of 
wholesome  laws  for  the  benefit  of  ginners.  At  a subsequent  meet- 
ing 24x54  inches  was  adopted  as  the  standard  measurement  of  a 
square  bale  of  cotton. 

The  upper  branch  of  the  State  Legislature  passed  a joint 
resolution  providing  for  an  international  cotton  convention  to 
be  held  at  Galveston  (August  2,  1897)  for  the  purpose  of  secur- 
ing concerted  legislation  looking  to  the  abolition  of  cotton 
exchanges  and  “bucket  shops,”  which,  it  was  contended,  were 
depressing  the  price  of  cotton  by  their  “adroit  management  of 
the  markets  of  the  world.” 


KING  COTTON 


231 


189S. — A Board  of  Trade  was  organized  in  September  at 
Jewett. 

The  Gull,  Beaumont  & Texas  Ry.,  from  Beaumont  to  Call, 
Texas  ^19:  miles),  was  chartered  in  1893  and  completed  this  year. 

Climatic  conditions  favored  the  spread  of  the  Mexican  boll- 
weevil,  and  the  State  made  provision  for  devising  some  means 
to  destroy  the  pest. 

The  five  varieties  of  cotton,  making  the  largest  average  yields 
per  acre  at  the  Beeville  Experiment  Station,  during  the  three 
years,  1894,  1895  and  1898,  were : — Beck’s  Big  Boll,  1,390 
pounds ; Dixon’s  Improved,  1,219 ; Peerless,  1,196 ; Sure  Fruit, 
1,194,  and  Cochran’s  Prolific,  1,174. 

1899. — According  to  the  Census  there  were  in  operation  this 
year  4,514  cotton  gins;  in  1900  there  were  4,370  and  in  1901, 
4,232.  The  average  output  of  each  gin  during  each  season  was, 
respectively,  589,  and  809,  and  613  bales.  The  average  cost  of 
ginning  and  baling  square  bales  in  1899  was  $2.19,  and  round 
bales  $1.19  per  bale. 

The  number  of  farmers  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  cotton 
during  this  year  was  284,037.  The  area  planted  was  6,960,367 
acres,  which  produced  1,292,404,967  pounds  of  lint,  or  an  average 
of  186  pounds  per  acre.  The  counties  having  the  largest  acreage, 
and  ranking  in  the  order  named  were,  Ellis.  AIcLennan,  Fannin, 
Hill,  Navarro,  Williamson,  Falls,  Milan  and  Bell. 

According  to  the  Census,  171  counties  reported  the  production 
of  cotton  this  year.  Of  this  number  74  produced  more  than 
10,000  bales.  The  returns  show  that  Mdlliamson  county  planted 
the  largest  acreage,  74,658  acres,  and  produced  the  largest  crop, 
152,659  bales. 

This  year  broke  the  record  to  date  in  the  production  of  cotton, 
the  commercial  movement  from  the  State  amounting  to  3,526,649 
bales. 

A Board  of  Trade  was  organized  this  year  at  Ft.  Worth,  and 
also  a Commercial  Club  at  Tyler. 

A phenomenally  heavy  rainfall  in  the  southern  and  central 
part  of  the  State  in  July,  greatly  injured  the  growing  crops. 
The  greatest  damage  was  in  McLennan,  Falls,  Milan,  Robertson, 


232 


TEXAS 


Brazos,  Burleson,  Grimes,  Waller,  Washington,  Austin,  Fort 
Bend  and  Brazoria  counties.  The  number  of  farms  submerged 
was  estimated  at  8,100,  embracing  an  area  of  1,380,000  acres. 
At  the  time  of  the  flood  there  were  of  this  area,  503,000  acres 
under  cultivation,  about  339,000  of  which  were  in  cotton. 

The  feature  of  this  year  was  the  increasing  damage  by  the 
Mexican  boll-weevil.  Fully  one-half  of  the  cotton  producing 
area  of  the  State  was  concerned  at  this  time.  In  all  this  region 
the  most  serious  consideration  was  given  to  the  abandonment 
of  cotton  and  the  raising  of  crops  less  likely  to  be  injured  by 
insects. 

There  were  9,722i/o  miles  of  I'ailway  in  operation  this  year. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Texas,  1900-1908 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1900-01 

Bales 

3.536.506 

Bales 

12.349 

9 

51,076 

1901-02  

2.594,442 

2,587,299 

18.741 

13 

76,982 

1902-03 

20.948 

15 

74,816 

1903-04 

2.562,632 

3.140.533 

18,002 

15 

77,096 

1904-05 

29,026 

75.424 

1905-06 

2,516,315 

34,686 

17 

86.160 

1906-07 

3,957,619 

43,713 

16 

102,436 

1907-08 

2,208,021 

38,922 

16 

103,516 

1900. — A great  flood  at  Galveston  in  September  wrecked  the 
cotton  mill  and  destroyed  much  property  in  that  city.  Great 
damage  was  reported  to  crops  in  the  southern  part  of  the  State. 

The  Galveston,  Houston  & N^orthern  Ry.,  from  Houston  to 
Galveston  (53  miles),  was  chartered  in  1899. 

The  first  new  bale  at  Houston  was  received  July  18.  It  was 
raised  near  San  Diego,  in  Duval  county,  and  was  sold  at  auction 
on  the  Exchange  for  $205. 

The  boll-worm  damaged  the  crop.  Scurry  and  Bastrop  coun- 
ties were  the  centers  of  the  greatest  injury. 

A Commercial  Club  was  organized  at  Texarkana,  and  also  one 
at  Denison.  A Board  of  Trade  was  organized  this  year  at 
McGregor. 

The  steamer  “Irada”  cleared  from  Galveston  for  Fiverpool 
(October  13)  carrying  a cargo  of  26,120  bales  of  cotton  (inclu- 


\ 


COTTON  READY  FOR  TIIE  COMPRESS  AT  BROWNSVILLE,  TEXAS. 
Courtesy  of  Brooke,  Smith  & Co.,  Brownsville,  Texas. 


KING  COTTON 


•233 


ding  7,800  round  bales  counted  as  3,900)  weighing  13,875,000 
pounds,  which  would  make  27,750  bales  of  a uniform  weight  of 
500  pounds.  This  was  the  largest  cargo  of  cotton  ever  shipped 
from  any  American  port.  Up  to  this  time  the  record  cotton 
cargo  was  23,814  bales,  carried  by  the  steamer  "Milwaukee"  from 
New  Orleans  to  Liverpool  in  October,  1897. 

The  boll-weevil  injured  the  crop  in  some  counties  in  the 
southwestern  part  of  the  State. 

At  the  close  of  the  season  1900-1901,  four  new  mills  had 
been  completed  and  six  projected. 

There  were  in  operation  this  year  102  cotton  oil  mills.  These 
mills  consum.ed  692,604  tons  of  cotton  seed  at  a cost  of  $7,560,661, 
and  the  value  of  the  crude  products  manufactured  was 
$11,519,656.  It  is  estimated  that  fifty-three  per  cent,  of  the  seed 
produced  in  the  State  was  consumed  by  the  mills. 

The  Galveston  Cotton  Exchange  advised  planters  to  pack 
cotton  bales  the  standard  size,  24x54  inches,  covered  with  6 yards 
of  2)4  pound  bagging,  and  bound  with  6 iron  or  steel  ties ; and 
that  larger  sized  bales,  not  so  covered,  would  be  subject  to  a 
fine  of  25  cents  a bale. 

James  T.  Fuller,  of  Calvert,  invented  a new  process  for  com- 
pressing round  cotton  bales. 

Aliss  Hattie  Guyner,  of  Chatfield,  Navarro  county,  16  years 
of  age,  “handsome  and  well  educated,”  picked  in  one  day  603 
pounds  of  cotton.  In  1897,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Neice,  of  the  same 
county,  picked  1,563  pounds  in  six  days. 

The  unprecedented  yield  this  year  caused  an  extraordinary 
demand  for  cotton  pickers.  A Fort  Worth  news  item  said  that 
the  high  prices  paid  caused  a panic  among  servants,  and  men 
and  women  went  to  the  cotton  fields  by  the  hundreds.  The 
shortage  in  help  compelled  several  hotels  to  close  their  doors. 
Some  farmers  in  Hill  county  paid  as  high  as  $1.25  per  hundred. 

The  first  new  bale  of  the  season  was  received  at  Corpus 
Christi  July  11.  In  1899  the  first  new  bale  reached  Sinton  July 
12;  in  1898,  San  Antonio,  July  1;  and  in  189'7,  Houston,  June  30. 

State  entomologist,  Mally,  estimated  the  loss  by  boll-weevil  at 
235,969  bales,  valued  at  $8,258,915. 


234 


TEXAS 


1901.  — It  was  estimated  that  the  long  continued  drought  in 
the  central,  eastern  and  northern  counties,  which  lasted  nearly 
two  months  in  some  localities,  and  the  destruction  of  the  crop 
by  the  boll-weevil  in  the  southwestern  counties,  resulted  in  a 
loss  of  about  1,000,000  bales. 

In  comparison  with  the  damage  by  the  boll-weevil  in  Texas 
this  year  all  other  injury  attributable  to  insects  was  insignificant. 
The  cotton-worms  appeared  as  usual  in  the  Gulf  States,  but  were 
late  and  in  such  small  numbers  as  to  render  their  control  an 
easy  matter.  The  boll-weevil,  however,  made  a considerable 
northward  advance,  and  reached  a point  less  than  one  hundred 
miles  of  the  Louisiana  border.  Nevertheless,  very  dry  weather, 
the  most  important  climatic  factor  in  reducing  the  numbers  of 
the  pest,  prevented  a great  deal  of  damage  that  would  otherwise 
have  occurred. 

This  year  broke  all  records  as  to  the  date  of  new  cotton 
received  at  Houston  or  any  other  market.  The  first  new  bale, 
raised  near  Alice,  in  Nueces  county,  which  is  in  the  extreme 
southwestern  part  of  the  State  and  just  below  the  28°  of  latitude, 
was  received  about  noon  at  the  Houston  Cotton  Exchange,  on 
June  22nd. 

A patent  was  obtained  by  Frank  M.  Dannelly,  of  Dallas,  for 
a suction  cotton  harvesting  and  cleaning  apparatus. 

The  first  new  bale  was  received  at  Galveston  July  24. 

The  Galveston  Cotton  Exchange  passed  resolutions  appealing 
to  the  National  Government  for  an  appropriation  to  exterminate 
the  boll-weevil. 

There  was  said  to  be  at  this  time  only  a few  cotton  gins  in 
the  State  where  horses  or  mules  were  used  as  motive  power. 

Cotton  pickers  in  one  field  at  work  gathering  the  fleecy  staple, 
and  plows  running  in  an  adjoining  field  preparing  the  land  for 
the  spring  seeding,  was  a familiar  scene  witnessed  this  year. 

W.  H.  Wentworth,  of  San  Antonio,  obtained  a patent  for  an 
improved  roller  cotton  gin. 

1902.  — Prof.  Mally,  State  entomologist,  estimated  a loss  of 
500,000  bales  of  cotton  this  season,  as  a result  of  the  ravages  of 
the  boll-weevils,  boll-worms  and  other  insect  pests.  Based  on 


KING  COTTON 


235 


Galveston  prices  (8^2  cents)  this  represented  a loss  of 
$21,250,000.  The  boll-weevil  district  embraced  68  counties. 

The  first  new  bale  was  received  at  Houston  on  July  1 from 
Linton,  San  Patricio  county.  Another  new  bale  was  received 
at  San  Antonio  from  Divine  about  the  same  date. 

Cotton  culture  was  successfully  attempted  on  the  Staked 
Plains,  although  it  had  been  cultivated  successfully  by  means  of 
irrigation  some  years  previously  in  Ward,  the  most  westerly 
county  in  the  State.-  It  is  claimed  that  this  territory,  which  is 
200  miles  wide  by  300  miles  long,  is  capable  of  producing 
2,000,000  bales  of  cotton. 

1903.  — P'rost,  on  April  30,  caused  considerable  damage  to  the 
young  cotton  plants  in  the  northern,  central  and  western  portions 
of  the  State. 

Owing  to  the  extraordinary  demand  for  cotton,  the  stocks  at 
interior  towns  at  the  close  of  the  season,  August  31,  were  less 
than  7,000  bales,  being  the  smallest  for  many  years. 

For  the  first  time  in  15  years  middling  cotton  sold  at  interior 
towns  for  12  cents  a pound. 

The  first  new'  bale  was  shipped  from  Zapata  county  and 
received  at  Galveston  July  18.  A new  bale  was  received  at 
Gainesville  on  the  15th  of  July. 

The  State  Boll-Weevil  Commission  examined  the  claims  of 
162  contestants  for  the  reward  of  $50,000,  offered  by  the  State 
for  an  effective  remedy  against  boll-weevils. 

It  was  estimated  that  the  boll-weevil  destroyed  300,000  bales 
of  cotton  this  year,  valued  at  $20,000,000. 

1904.  — Mr.  Burleson,  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  urging 
the  passage  of  the  bill  appropriating  $250,000  to  exterminate  the 
boll-w'eevil,  gave  some  startling  information  regarding  the 
ravages  of  this  pest  in  Texas. 

The  first  bales  (two)  of  the  new  crop  were  received  at 
Browmsville  June  11,  and  were  raised  by  Juan  H.  Fernandez. 
The  cotton  was  grown  from  the  planting  of  the  previous  season, 
the  stalks  having  survived  the  mild  winter. 

The  Liverpool  Cotton  Gazette,  November  17th,  stated  that 
the  largest  cargo  of  cotton  received  during  the  season  (1904-05) 


236 


TEXAS 


was  from  Galveston,  by  the  Dominion  liner  ‘‘Xorseman."  which 
carried  30,905  bales. 

1905.  — The  first  new  bale  of  cotton  was  shipped  from  Austin 
to  Galveston  June  24.  It  was  raised  by  Manuel  Guerrero,  of  the 
Rio  Grande  Valley. 

The  Xational  Ginners  Association  (December  7)  estimated 
the  crop  this  season  at  9,623,000  bales. 

Seven  counties  in  the  Panhandle  showed  an  increase  of  about 
16,500  bales  over  the  crop  of  1904.  Some  of  the  southwestern 
counties  where  the  boll-weevil  had  hitherto  ruined  the  crops,  also 
show  a marked  increase  in  production  as  compared  with  former 
years. 

The  use  of  commercial  fertilizers  as  a boll-weevil  preventive, 
began  to  attract  attention  in  the  eastern  counties. 

1906.  — A Dallas  News  correspondent,  of  Midland  county, 
said  cotton  was  first  planted  in  that  county  in  1905,  when  over 
half  a bale  to  the  acre  was  made  on  sod  land.  In  1906  some 
made  a half,  some  three-quarters  and  others  one  bale  to  the  acre. 

A news  item  from  Georgetown  stated  that  there  never  was 
such  a demand  for  cotton  pickers  as  now  (September  26),  and 
that  there  were  at  least  50,000  bales  open  in  the  fields  of  William- 
son county.  One  negro  near  Taylor  picked  817  pounds  in  one 
day,  and  it  was  common  for  pickers  to  gather  600  and  700  pounds 
a day. 

The  first  new  bale  was  received  at  Brownsville  July  5. 

In  the  section  west  of  a line  drawn  from  Hardeman  county 
on  the  north  to  Dimmit  county  on  the  south,  the  production  of 
cotton  in  1899  amounted  to  about  6,000  bales ; in  1906  this  terri- 
tory produced  over  136,000  bales,  an  increase  of  nearly  20-fold. 

1907.  — The  winter  of  1906-07  was  so  mild  that  the  Houston 
Post  in  one  of  its  head-lines  in  January,  said:  “Absence  of 
Winter  Brings  Most  Remarkable  Conditions — Last  Year’s  Cotton 
Stalks  Still  Blooming,  and  Ribbon  Cane  is  Up  From  Last  Year’s 
Stubbles.” 

A long  protracted  drought,  beginning  about  July  1st  and 
continuing  through  the  summer,  seriously  damaged  the  crops  in 
108  counties,  cutting  off  the  yield  from  25  to  50  per  cent. 


KING  COTTON 


L37 


In  a statement  issued  by  W.  D.  Hunter,  in  charge  of  the  boll- 
weevil  investigations  made  by  the  government,  is  the  following; 
“With  a crop  of  over  4,000,000  bales  in  Texas  last  year,  and  a 
crop  of  2,500,000  bales  in  1905,  during  both  of  which  years  the 
boll-weevil  was  spread  over  the  bulk  of  the  cotton-growing  area, 
it  seems  that  Texas  will  be  able  to  maintain  her  preeminence 
in  cotton  production  regardless  of  the  boll-weevil.” 

Prof.  S.  A.  Knapp,  in  charge  of  an  important  branch  of  the 
Texas  Bureau  of  Agriculture,  advocated  the  use  of  high-grade 
commercial  fertilizers  as  the  surest  means  of  combating  the  boll- 
weevil.  It  forces  rapid  growth,  and  such  early  maturity  that  the 
bolls  are  hardened  and  cannot  be  easily  penetrated  by  the  insect. 

Hidalgo  county  marketed  the  first  bale  of  new  cotton  on 
June  17.  It  was,  however,  grown  from  stalks  planted  the 
previous  year. 

A Paris  news  item  (July  24)  said:  J.  D.  Holder,  in  the 
northwest  portion  of  the  county,  has  had  picked  from  200  acres 
of  cotton  7,000  boll-weevils.  He  paid  25  cents  a hundred  for 
weevils,  and  10  cents  a hundred  for  punctured  squares  and  bolls. 

On  July  28  “a  terrific  heat  wave”  occurred  at  McGregor,  the 
thermometer  registering  179  in  the  sun  and  117  in  the  shade. 
The  heat  was  so  intense  that  many  horses,  cattle,  hogs  and 
poultry  were  killed. 

The  State  Legislature  passed  one  of  the  most  stringent  anti- 
option laws  ever  enacted,  prohibiting  in  the  State  all  deals  in 
cotton  for  future  delivery. 

According  to  the  Census  there  were  3,995  cotton  gins  in  opera- 
tion, the  average  output  of  each  gin  being-  563  bales. 

There  were  177  cotton  oil  mills  in  the  State  that  consumed 
576,912  tons  of  seed  costing  $10,015,192.  The  value  of  the  prod- 
ucts, including  linters,  was  $14,288,064. 

The  Farmers’  Cooperative  Demonstration  Work  con- 
ducted by  the  Department  of  Agriculture  was  inaugurated  in 
Texas  under  the  supervision  of  Dr.  S.  A.  Knapp,  in  1904.  The 
value  of  this  work  is  commended  in  the  report  of  a committee 
of  Harrison  county  farmers  dated  October  10  (1907),  as  fol- 
lows : It  taught  better  culture  and  introduced  better  seed. 
These  two  items  alone  were  worth  $100,000  this  year  to  our 


238 


ARKANSAS 


county  in  actual  cash,  to  say  nothing  of  future  benefits.  It 
saved  a stampede  of  tenant  farmers  and  laborers  from  the  farm. 
It  gave  confidence  to  the  merchants  and  bankers  that  a crop 
would  be  made,  and  thus  promoted  credit.  It  demonstrated  to 
the  farmers  that  a crop  of  cotton  would  be  made  under  extremely 
adverse  conditions  of  weather  and  insect  pests,  and  they  entered 
upon  another  year  with  perfect  confidence. 

W.  D.  Hunter,  special  agent  in  charge  of  cotton  boll-weevil 
investigations  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  made  an  esti- 
mate which  he  considered  “very  conservative,”  that  during  the 
season  1904  the  weevil  caused  a reduction  of  at  least  450,000 
bales  of  cotton,  representing  a value,  including  that  of  seed,  of 
about  $22,000,000,  as  against  about  $15,000,000  in  1903,  and 
$10,000,000  in  1902.  The  total  damage  since  the  weevil  entered 
Texas  was  placed  at  $50,000,000. 


CHAPTER  XI 


Arkansas,  and  its  Cotton  Crops  from  1823  to  1908 — Num- 
ber OF  Cotton  Miles  and  Spindles  and  Domestic  Con- 
sumption OF  CoTTON: — Historical  Data  Relating  to 
Cotton  Production. 

In  1722,  when  M.  La  Ilarpe  visited  the  settlement  a few  miles 
above  the  Arkansas  river,  the  only  one  then  in  the  Arkansas 
territory,  he  found  only  forty-seven  persons  there  who  had  begun 
to  cultivate  the  land,  a part  of  which  was  sown  in  wheat.  He 
took  an  inventory  of  their  possessions,  but  no  mention  is  made 
of  cotton.^  There  is  said  to  be,  however,  somewhere  among  the 
historical  collections  of  the  Southwest,  a statement  that  cotton 
grown  in  Arkansas  was  received  in  New  Orleans  in  1746,  but 
where  and  by  whom  was  unknown. 

It  is  very  doubtful  if  cotton  was  cultivated  at  any  time  during 
the  Eighteenth  Century.  The  population  in  1779  numbered  only 
368,  hence,  the  amount  of  land  under  cultivation  was  insignificant. 
Even  while  being  cultivated,  and  the  crops  were  being  gathered, 
“each  farmer  carried  a carbine  strapped  to  his  shoulder  and  they 
worked  back  and  forth  abreast  of  each  other,  so  as  to  be  in  sup- 
porting distance  in  case  of  an  attack  from  the  Indians.”' 

Among  the  first  records  of  cotton  growing  in  Arkansas  are 
those  narrated  in  “A  Journal  of  Travels  into  the  Arkansas  Terri- 
tory during  the  Year  1819,”  by  Thomas  Nuttall,  who  made  the 
journey  from  Philadelphia,  and  down  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi 
rivers,  for  the  purpose  of  “investigating  the  natural  history  of 
a region  hitherto  unexplored.” 

One  of  the  first  plantations  he  visited  was  that  of  M.  Tenass, 
“an  honest  and  industrious  farmer,”  who  lived  on  the  Arkansas 
river  about  16  miles  from  the  bayou  running  into  White  river. 
The  crop  of  cotton  grown  here  the  previous  season  (1818), 


^ Louisiana  Historical  Collection. 

2 History  of  Arkansas;  Hempstead. 


2.39 


240 


ARKANSAS 


though  a very  in,dii¥erent  one,  for  want  of  rain,  he  said,  “sold  at 
$5.00  to  $6.00  per  cwt.  in  the  seed.”  He  next  visited  the 
French  settlement  at  Arkansas  Post,  and  the  cotton  produced  in 
this  neighborhood  was  of  a cjuality  no  way  inferior  to  that  of 
Red  river,  and  sold  this  year  for  $6.00  to  $6.50  per  cwt.,  and 
there  were  now  two  gins  established  for  its  preparation. 

Continuing  his  trip  up  the  Arkansas  some  60  miles  he  came 
to  Curran’s  settlement,  which  was  upon  a very  superior  body  of 
land  that  yielded  from  1,000  to  1,500  pounds  of  cotton  per  acre, 
and  of  a staple  equal  to  that  of  Red  river. 

From  Little  Rock  Nuttal!  writes:'  "The  privations  of  an 
infant  settlement  are  already  beginning  to  disappear,  * * * 
those  who  have  large  and  growing  families  can  always  find  lucra- 
tive employment  in  a country  which  produces  cotton.  The 
wages  of  laborers  were  from  $12.00  to  $15.00  per  month  and 
boarding,  which  could  not  then  be  considered  extravagant,  while 
cotton  produced  from  $5.00  to  $6.00  per  cwt.  in  the  seed, 
and  each  acre  from  1,000  to  1,500  pounds.  Land  around  Little 
Rock,  of  good  quality,  was  held  as  high  as  $10.00  per  acre.  This 
was  when  held  by  individuals.” 

Higher  up  the  river  he  visited  the  Pecannarie  settlement 
(settled  in  1815),  which  contained  about  60  families,  and  next  to 
the  one  at  Arkansas  Post,  the  most  important  in  the  territory. 
The  country  was  “extremely  favorable  for  the  growth  of  cotton, 
as  appeared  by  the  crops  of  the  present  year  (1819),  but  the 
price  was  fallen  to  $3.00  per  cwt.  in  the  seed,  with  little  or 
no  demand.’'  The  last  white  settlement  up  the  river  of  any 
importance  was  the  Dardanelle  settlement,  then  came  the  lands 
of  the  Cherokee  Indians,  allotted  to  them  by  Congress  in 
exchange  for  their  lands  in  Mississippi. 

Among  the  advertisements  in  the  Arkansas  Gazette,  published 
at  Arkansas  City,  was  one  that  appeared  January  20th,  1820, 
announcing  that  Frederic  Notrebe  would  give  3)4  cents  per 
pound  for  cotton  in  the  seed,  one-half  to  be  paid  in  cash,  and  the 
remainder  in  merchandise  from  his  store.  On  April  1st  of  the 
same  year,  the  first  steamboat  to  ascend  the  Arkansas  river, 
arrived  at  Arkansas  City  from  New  Orleans,  having  made  the 
trip  in  eight  days.  The  opening  of  the  river  to  steam  navigation 


KING  COTTON 


241 


no  doubt  gave  quite  an  impetus  to  the  cultivation  of  cotton  at 
this  period. 

The  first  commercial  cotton  crop  of  the  State  was  285  bales, 
produced  in  1823.  Six  years  later  the  crop  increased  to  1,525 
bales.  During  the  succeeding  decades  until  the  Civil  War  the 
production  increased  as  follows:  1830-1840,  from  1,769  to 
16,607  bales , 1840-1850,  from  12,220  to  65,244  bales ; 1850-1860, 
from  69,956  to  367,393  bales,  the  latter  being  the  largest  crop 
produced  prior  to  the  Civil  War. 

After  the  war  the  first  crop  (1866)  raised  was  207,000  bales, 
which  increased  to  248,000  bales  in  1869.  In  the  three  succeeding 
decades  the  increase  in  production  was:  1870-1880,  from  290,000 
to  707,000 ; 1880-1890,  from  516,000  to  697,000 ; 1890-1900,  from 
520,000  to  942,000  bales.  The  largest  crop  in  the  history  of  the 
State  Avas  that  of  1902-03,  when  it  reached  almost  a million  bales. 

The  area  planted  in  cotton  in  1879,  as  given  by  the  Census 
was  1,042,000  acres,  and  in  1906,  as  estimated  by  the  Department 
of  Agriculture,  2,139,000  acres;  showing  an  increase  since  1879 
of  1,097,000  acres,  or  about  105  per  cent.  The  Census  places 
the  production  in  1879  at  608,000  bales,  and  in  1906  at  899,000 
bales,  showing  an  increase  of  291,000  bales,  or  nearly  48  per 
cent.  According  to  this  showing  the  area  has  increased  57  per 
cent,  more  than  the  production,  whch  would  indicate  that  either 
the  estimated  acreage  was  too  large,  or  else  the  yield  per  acre 
has  deteriorated  considerably  since  1879. 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  Arkansas,  1823-1839 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1823-24 

285 

1832-33 

2 862 

1824-25 

403 

1833-34 

2.143 

1825-26 

1,002 

1834-35 

3,134 

1826-27 

1.739 

1835-36 

5.738 

1827-28 

1 201 

1836-37  

7 072 

1828-29 

1,332 

1837-38 

9 898 

1829-30 

1 .525 

1838-39 

8 528 

18.30-31 

1.769 

1839-40 

16.607 

1831-32 

1,193 

1825. — “The  cultivation  of  cotton  is  greatly  extended  in  this 
Territory,”  said  Niles’  Register,  “and  the  crop  of  the  present 
year  (18251  promises  an  abundant  yield.” 

16 


242 


ARKANSAS 


The  Little  Rock  Gazette  stated  that  one  acre,  taken  indiscrim- 
inately from  a field  of  85  acres,  had  yielded  upwards  of  1,800 
pounds  of  seed  cotton  and  from  200  to  300  pounds  more  were 
expected  from  the  same  ground.  The  average  product  of  Phillips 
county  was  put  down  at  from  1,800  to  2,000  pounds  of  seed  per 
acre ; and  Crawford  county,  which  in  1824  did  not  send  a pound 
to  the  market,  it  was  expected  would  make  200  bales.  The  same 
increase  was  reported  from  other  counties  in  the  Territory. 

1836. — Arkansas  was  admitted  into  the  Union  June  15tli. 

1839. — I.ewis  B.  Fort,  in  the  Little  Rock  Gazette,  reported 
that  seven  of  his  hands  on  September  28th,  picked  2,563  pounds 
of  cotton,  or  an  average  of  366  pounds  to  the  hand. 

Of  the  39  counties  reported  by  the  Census  all  but  one  (Ben- 
ton) raised  cotton.  The  counties  of  largest  production  were: 
Lafayette,  Chicot,  Sevier,  Lhiion  and  Arkansas. 

At  this  time  most  of  the  cotton  made  in  the  State  was 
marketed  at  New  Orleans. 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  Arkansas,  1840-1849 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1840-41 

12,220 

17,863 

25,890 

1845-46 

40,965 

30,723 

47,962 

1841-42 

1846-47 

1842-43 

1847-48 

1843-44 

27,962 

36,868 

1848-49 

56,654 

65,344 

1844-45 

1849-50 

1843.  — During  the  six  years,  from  1834  to  1840  the  govern- 
ment disposed  of  2,377,000  acres  of  public  lands,  and  from 
1833  to  1843,  inclusive,  2,606,000  acres. 

1844.  — A cotton  mill  was  erected  at  Cave  Hill,  Washington 
county. 

1846. — A loss  of  two-thirds  of  the  crop  by  the  ravages  of  the 
caterpillar  was  reported  from  Miller  county. 

1849. — The  Census  returns  for  Chicot  county  showed  the 
highest  total  production,  12,192  bales,  of  400  pounds  each. 

D.  R.  Coulter,  of  LTnion  county,  in  a letter  to  the  Commis- 
sioner of  Patents  stated  that  upon  well-managed  plantations, 
making  a support  of  corn,  meat,  etc.,  4 bales  of  500  pounds  each 
per  hand  is  a fair  average  yield.  The  expense  incurred  was : 


KING  COTTON 


243 


freight,  $4.00;  commissions  (2^2  per  cent.),  $3.00;  bagging  and 
ropes,  $7.00;  storage,  drayage  and  weightage,  75  cents;  insur- 
ance, fire  and  river^  $1.50 : total,  $16.25 ; expenses  per  hand, 
clothing  and  taxes,  $14.50;  ten  per  cent,  on  mule  and  horse 
capital,  $10.00 ; wear  and  tear  of  farming  utensils,  $5.00 ; total, 
$29.50;  total  expense  of  making  the  4 bales,  $45.75.  Valuing 
the  crop  at  $30.00  per  bale,  or  6 cents  per  pound  for  2,000 
pounds,  $120.00,  this  would  leave  a clear  profit  per  hand  of  $74.25. 

J.  W.  Calvert  estimated  the  yield  per  acre  in  St.  Francis 
county  at  1,000  pounds  of  seed,  and  much  more  in  some 
instances.  Mexican  and  IMastodon  were  the  varieties  preferred. 
T.  A.  Heard  gave  the  average  yield  of  Clark  county  at  1,200 
pounds.  Some  lands  yielded  2,500  pounds,  or  nearly  2 bales 
to  the  acre. 

The  varieties  planted  were  “Petit-gulph,”  Acclimated  Mexi- 
can, the  Prolific,  and  Bunch,  the  two  latter  being  preferred  by 
those  who  had  tried  them.  Cotton  seed  was  highly  prized  as  a 
fertilizer  and  the  only  one  used. 

Frosts  abo'ut  the  middle  of  April  injured  the  young  cotton 
plants. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Ark.vnsas,  1850-1859 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1850-51 

Bales 

69,956 

82,737 

Bales 

116 

1851-52 

155 

1852-53 

90,409 

208 

1853-54  

81,378 

80,000 

128,617 

191 

176 

179 

1856-57  

152.391 

165,823 

204,087 

200 

1857-58 

368 

1858-59 

407 

1859-60 

367, .393 

408 

9 

1,000 

1850. — The  average  yield  per  acre  in  his  neighborhood,  as 
estimated  by  E.  W.  Wright  of  Union  county,  was  200  pounds 
of  ginned  cotton.  He  stated  that  cotton  seed  was  highly  valued 
as  a fertilizer  for  both  corn  and  cotton  crops. 

1853. — The  caterpillar  caused  some  damage  to  the  crop  this 
year. 


244 


ARKANSAS 


1855. — The  crop  for  the  first  time  exceeded  100,000  bales. 

1857.  — The  land  cultivated  in  cotton  in  1857  amounted  to 
317,680  acres,  and  the  production  to  172,692  bales.  By  the 
Auditor’s  report  the  State  contained  in  1858,  60,249  slaves. 

1858.  — The  crop  exceeded  200,000  bales  for  the  first  time. 

1859.  — Chicot  county  had  the  highest  total  production,  40,948 
bales  of  400  pounds  each,  which  was  the  greatest  number  made 
by  any  count3^ 

The  crop  for  the  first  time  exceeded  300,000  bales. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Arkansas,  1860-1869 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1860-61 

Bales 

262,.531 

Bales 

463 

No  data 

No  data 

1861-62 

No  data 

No  data 

do 

do 

1862-63 

do 

do 

do 

do 

186.3-64 

do 

do 

do 

do 

1864-65 

do 

do 

do 

do 

186.5-66 

do 

do 

do 

do 

1866-67 

207,017 

no 

do 

do 

1867-68 

2.37,059 

124 

do 

do 

1868-69 

272.775 

120 

do 

do 

1869-70 

247,968 

151 

2 

1,125 

1860. — There  were  38  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this  year. 

1866.  — The  tax  on  cotton  collected  by  the  Federal  government 
was  $203,073. 

The  caterpillar  was  very  destructive  to  the  crop  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  State. 

The  Arkansas  Immigration  Society  made  this  statement:  “In 
the  southern  and  southwestern  sections  of  the  State,  especially 
on  the  Arkansas,  Ouachita  and  Red  river  bottom  lands,  crops 
will  average  from  1,000  to  1,500  pounds  of  cotton  per  acre. 
One  of  our  committee  in  1856,  saw  the  counting  of  700  bolls 
and  squares  on  a single  cotton  plant  on  the  plantation  of  R.  H. 
Douglas,  in  Arkansas  county.  The  cotton  was  of  the  Boyd 
prolific  variety.” 

1867.  — The  tax  on  cotton  collected  by  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment was  $1,641,342 ; and  in  1868,  $711,222. 

1868.  — The  crops  of  the  river  counties  were  damaged  by  the 
caterpillar. 


KING  COTTON 


24*5 


1869. — There  was  one  cotton  mill  in  the  State  with  516 
spindles. 

Jefferson  connty  made  the  largest  crop  this  year,  18,390  bales. 


Co.M.MERCIAL  CrOPS  AXD  CONSUMPTION  OF  COTTON  IN 

Arkansas,  1S70-1S79 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1870-71 

Bales 

474,000 

Bales 

182 

No  data 

No  data 

1871-72 

290,000 

240 

do 

do 

1872-73 

455,000 

293 

do 

do 

1873-74 

420,000 

293 

9 

1,256 

1874-75 

400.000 

260 

No  data 

No  data 

1875-76 

. 650,000 

536 

do 

do 

1876-77 

515,000 

508 

do 

do 

1877-78 

590,000 

604 

do 

do 

1878-79 

707,282 

744 

do 

do 

1879-80 

608,256 

6S0 

2 

2,015 

1870. — There  were  256  miles  of  railway  in  operation. 

1871.  — The  Arkansas  Central,  now  the  Arkansas  Midland 
R.  R.,  from  Helena  to  Clarendon  (50  miles),  was  chartered  in 
1853  and  opened  during  this  year. 

1873.  — Cotton-worms  were  more  numerous  than  ever  before. 
Great  damage  was  done  in  Hempstead  county,  and  considerable 
damage  in  seven  other  large  producing  counties. 

1874.  — The  St.  Louis,  Iron  Mountain  & Southern  R.  R.,  from 
St.  Louis  to  Texarkana  (490  miles),  was  completed  during  this 
year. 

The  Memphis  & Little  Rock  R.  R.,  from  IMemphis  to  Little 
Rock  (135  miles),  was  chartered  in  1853  and  completed 
January  5th. 

1875.  — The  crop  for  the  first  time  exceeded  500,000  bales. 

1876.  — A.  L.  Hill  and  G.  W.  Payne,  of  Lincoln  county, 
obtained  a patent  for  a cotton  picking  machine  consisting  of 
gathering  combs,  with  teeth  attached  to  endless  gathering  chains 
and  cleaner  brushes  properly  adjusted. 

The  damage  by  the  caterpillars  was  slight  as  compared  with 
previous  years. 

1877.  — An  overflow  submerged  60,000  acres,  which  was 
replanted  mostly  in  corn  and  cotton. 


246 


ARKANSAS 


1878.  — The  caterpillar  was  destructive  in  Pope  and  Crawford 
counties. 

1879.  — Jefferson  county  made  the  largest  crop,  viz.:  34,588 
bales,  and  Chicot  the  highest  yield  per  acre,  .9'4  of  a bale. 

There  were  four  cotton  oil  mills  in  the  State. 

The  Department  of  Agriculture  estimated  the  loss  from 
cotton-worms,  from  1875  to  1878,  inclusive,  at  347,000  bales, 
valued  at  $1,380,000. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Arkansas,  1880-1889 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1880-81 

Bales 

516.095 

Bales 

810 

No  data 

No  data 

1881-82 

525.000 

1,033 

do 

do 

1882-83 

697.000 

1,127 

do 

do 

188.3-84 

518„500 

1,224 

do 

do 

1884-85 

531.400 

1.1.38 

do 

. do 

1885-86 

610.661 

1.371 

do 

do 

1886-87 

660,872 

1,415 

2 

.3,200 

1887-88 

611,010 

1,199 

1 

2,080 

1888-89 

597,290 

1,155 

2 

4„500 

1889-90 

691,494 

1,222 

2 

4,3.31 

1880.  — A Chamber  of  Commerce  was  organized  (in  October) 
at  Helena. 

Excessive  rains  in  the  fall  months  injured  the  crop. 

There  were  859  miles  of  railway  in  operation. 

1881.  — Boll-worms  destroyed  15,055  bales  of  cotton,  as  esti- 
mated by  the  Department  of  Agriculture. 

The  Little  Rock,  Mississippi  & Texas  R.  R.,  now  the  St. 
Louis,  Iron  Mountain  & Southern  R.  R.,  from  Little  Rock  to 
Arkansas  City  (113  miles),  was  completed  Lebruary  25th. 

A cotton  picking  machine  that  attracted  some  attention,  com- 
posed of  a series  of  iron  fingers  forming  a picker,  and  an  endless 
carrying  belt  moved  by  a suitable  drum  with  projecting  points, 
was  patented  by  J.  L.  Cunningham,  Sr.,  of  Pulton  county. 

1882.  — A cotton  exchange  was  organized  at  Little  Rock, 
which  a few  years  later  was  consolidated  with  the  Board  of 
Trade. 

1883.  — A number  of  patents  were  granted  to  G.  N.  Todd,  of 
Little  Rock,  for  cotton  picking  devices,  but  his  first  patent  was 


KING  COTTON 


247 


obtained  in  1883.  The  principle  of  his  machine  was  a combina- 
tion of  two  series  of  picker  cylinders  on  horizontal  axes,  on  either 
side  of  the  passage  way  of  the  machine.  Improvements  upon 
this  principle  were  made  from  time  to  time  and  his  inventions 
attracted  great  attention. 

The  Texas  & St.  Louis  R.  R.,  now  the  St.  Louis  Southwest- 
ern R.  R.,  was  completed  to  Texarkana  August  12th. 

There  were  at  this  time  8 cotton  oil  mills  in  operation. 

The  Kansas  City,  Springfield  & Memphis  R.  R.,  now  the 
Kansas  City,  Ft.  Scott  & Memphis  R.  R.,  from  Kansas  City 
to  Memphis  (484  miles),  was  chartered  in  1881,  and  completed 
in  October  20. 

1885. — Drought  in  August  injured  the  crop. 

1887.  — On  January  31st,  Senator  Berry  of  Arkansas,  pre- 
sented to  the  United  States  Senate  the  following  joint  resolutions 
of  the  Arkansas  Legislature : — “Resolved,  by  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  Arkansas;  That  we  renew  the  request  made  in  the  joint 
memorial  by  the  General  Assembly  in  1885  to  our  members  of 
Congress  of  the  United  States,  namely,  that  they  use  every 
honorable  influence  to  have  the  $68,000,000  of  cotton  tax  collected 
from  the  several  cotton  States,  refunded  to  the  States  from 
which  it  was  collected,  according  to  the  number  of  bales  of 
cotton  produced  in  each  State  in  the  vear  the  tax  was  collected.” 

1888.  — The  Department  of  Agriculture  gave  Arkansas  the 
highest  average  yield  per  acre  of  all  States,  216  pounds  of  lint 
cotton. 

Lice  and  cut- worms  injured  the  cotton  planted  early  in  the 
season.  In  St.  Francis  county  it  was  reported  that  a great  deal 
of  the  necessary  replanting  was  delayed  on  account  of  these 
insects,  which  were  more  numerous  than  ever  known  before. 

Senator  Jones,  of  Arkansas,  introduced  in  the  United  States 
Senate  a resolution  for  an  inquiry  into  the  alleged  formation  of 
a pool  to  control  the  price  of  bagging.  He  stated  that  it 
required  50,000,000  yards  per  annum  to  pack  the  cotton  crop, 
all  of  which  was  made  in  the  United  States  and,  that  since  the 
formation  of  the  pool  bagging  had  advanced,  within  a few 
days,  from  7 to  11%  cents  a yard. 

1889.  — The  boll-worm  was  abundant,  and  an  estimate  made 


248 


ARKANSAS 


in  Perry  county  of  a loss  of  at  least  50  per  cent,  was  the  highest 
received  from  any  correspondent. 

Jefferson  county  planted  the  largest  area  in  cotton  and  also 
produced  the  largest  crop,  viz. : 90,996  acres  and  47,341  bales. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Arkansas,  1890-1899 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1890-91 

Bales 

760.000 

Bales 

700 

2 

4,408 

1891-92 

800.000 

1,567 

2 

5,700 

1892-93 

535,000 

1,110 

3 

9,000 

1893-94 

679,000 

1.210 

3 

6.146 

1894-95 

748,206 

2,103 

2 

6.148 

1895-96 

.520,860 

1,975 

3 

8,948 

1896-97 

605,643 

1,459 

2 

5,948 

1897-98 

942,267 

1,645 

2 

11,000 

1898-99 

919,469 

3,288 

3 

14.000 

1899-00 

719,453 

2,394 

4 

17,160 

1890.  — The  Department  of  Agriculture  gave  Arkansas  this 
year,  the  highest  average  yield  of  lint  cotton  per  acre,  225 
pounds. 

There  were  2,203J^  miles  of  railway  in  operation. 

1891.  — -A  picker  drum,  journaled  upon  the  stationary  axle 
of  a wagon  and  provided  with  revolvable  picker  spindles,  etc., 
designed  for  picking  cotton,  was  patented  by  H.  P.  Dooly,  of 
Forest  City. 

1892.  — Cotton  lice  caused  some  damage  to  the  crop. 

1893.  — Two  hundred  delegates  representing  the  planting 
interests  of  the  State  met  at  Little  Rock,  March  10th,  to 
discuss  the  cotton  acreage  for  1893.  Resolutions  were  adopted 
advising  a further  reduction  from  the  acreage  of  1892  and  also 
advising  a diversification  of  crops. 

J.  M.  Hudson,  of  Jefferson  county,  in  answer  to  the 
question  respecting  the  condition  of  the  cotton  planter  in  his 
section,  stated  to  the  United  States  Senate  Committee  on  Agri- 
culture that,  only  those  who  depend  on  cotton  to  the  exclusion 
of  other  things  are  in  debt,  and  their  creditors  are  generally 
thrifty  neighbors  who  have  not  depended  on  raising  cotton, 
but  paid  attention  to  raising  cereals  and  stock.  The  best 
evidence  that  this  is  true  lies  in  the  fact  that  when  you  find  a 
planter  who  raises  his  corn,  forage,  and  stock,  and  makes  cotton 


MOTHERS  AND  DAUGHTERS  PICKING  COTTON  IN  ARKANSAS, 
Courtesy  of  Wolft'-Goldman  Mercantile  Co.,  Newport,  Ark. 


KING  COTTON 


249 


his  surplus  crop  you  invariably  find  a man  in  easy  circumstances. 

j\Iany  counties,  notably  Clarke,  Pope,  and  Little  River 
sufifered  exceptional  damage  from  the  boll-worm. 

1896.  — The  average  cost  of  cotton  production  this  year,  as 
ascertained  by  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  was  5.61  cents 
per  pound.  This  was  the  highest  average  cost  reported  from 
any  State. 

1897.  — The  second  largest  crop  in  the  history  of  the  State, 
942,267  bales,  was  produced  this  year. 

Great  floods  in  the  Mississippi  river  in  April  and  May. 
Upwards  of  a million  acres  were  under  water  in  the  State, 
' including  about  a quarter  of  a million  acres  of  cotton  lands. 

In  a bulletin  on  “Soil  Improvement,”  R.  L.  Bennett,  Direc- 
tor of  the  State  Experiment  Station,  said : — “The  cheapest,  most 
durable  and  available  form  of  nitrogen  on  worn-out  cotton 
lands,  is  vegetable  nitrogen,  in  the  form  of  cowpeas,  cotton  seed 
and  cotton  meal.  One  crop  of  cowpeas  turned  in  the  soil  will 
furnish  more  nitrogen  than  is  necessary  for  one  crop  of  corn 
or  cotton.  “Whenever,”  he  says,  “after  testing  the  matter,  it  is 
found  necessary  to  buy  nitrogen,  the  Arkansas  farmer  should 
buy  it  in  cotton  meal,  or  crushed  cotton  seed,  for  the  reason  that 
it  is  far  the  cheapest  and  most  durable  form  in  which  he  can 
buy  nitrogen.  In  addition  to  those  advantages,  his  consumption 
of  cotton  seed  and  meal  increases  the  market  for  his,  or  his 
neighbor’s  cotton  seed,  and,  also,  the  money  paid  for  them 
remains  in  his  neighborhood  instead  of  going  to  other  distant 
regions,  as  it  does  when  nitrogen  is  bought  in  other  forms.” 

1899. — The  Kansas  City,  Pittsburg  & Gulf  R.  R.,  now 
the  Kansas  City  Southern  R.  R.,  from  Kansas  City  to  Port 
Arthur,  was  chartered  in  1887  and  completed  during  this  year. 

There  were  3,088  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this  year. 

Jefferson  county  made  the  largest  crop,  43,392  bales. 

During  this  year  118,697  farmers  were  engaged  in  the  culti- 
vation of  cotton.  The  area  planted  was  1,641,855  acres,  and 
the  yield  352,963,804  pounds  of  lint  cotton,  or  an  average  of 
215  pKDunds  to  the  acre.  The  counties  having  the  largest 
acreage,  ranking  in  the  order  named  were,  Jefferson,  Phillips 
and  Lee. 


250 


ARKANSAS 


There  were  2,630  cotton  gins  in  operation  in  1899 ; 2,578 
in  1900,  and  2,393  in  1901.  According  to  the  Census  the 
average  output  of  each  gin  each  season  was,  respectively,  274, 
and  321,  and  308  bales.  The  average  cost  of  ginning  and 
baling  square  bales  in  1899  was  $1.98.  and  for  round  bales,  $1.24 
per  bale. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Arkansas,  1900-1908 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1900-01 

Bales 

828.820 

Bales 

1.731 

4 

14,660 

1901-02 

73S.080 

2,096 

4 

16,610 

1902-03 

999,629 

2,894 

2 

12,112 

1903-04 

741,236 

1,947 

3 

22,520 

1904-0.5 

901.872 

3,210 

4 

25, .520 

1905-06 

599,272 

2,980 

3 

17,624 

1906-07 

894.268 

3,906 

2 

15,312 

1907-08 

751,851 

2,4.50 

2 

14,324 

1900. — A patent  was  granted  to  Alfred  B.  Floyd,  of  Helena, 
for  a cotton  picking  machine  constructed  of  vertically  placed 
revolving  drums  provided  with  brushes.  In  1895,  1896  and  1897 
patents  for  cotton-picking  devices  were  also  granted  to  James 
Neighbors,  of  Ft.  Smith,  Daniel  W.  Gaskill,  of  Little  Rock,  and 
David  S.  Deaderick,  of  Mammoth  Springs. 

This  season  the  boll-worm  was  more  numerous  than  for 
several  years. 

The  Choctaw,  Oklahoma  & Gulf  R.  R.,  from  Little  Rock 
to  Weatherford,  Ind.  T.  (430  miles),  was  completed  in  1899 
and  1900. 

There  were  in  operation  this  year  twenty  cotton  oil  mills 
that  consumed  190,015  tons  of  seed  worth  $2,245,710.  Of  the 
seed  produced  in  the  State,  53.9  per  cent,  was  manufactured  into 
oil  products,  valued  at  $3,188,812. 

The  first  new  bale  of  the  season,  made  by  J.  G.  Brummett, 
of  Stephens,  was  sold  at  Camden  to  the  highest  bidder,  for 
$101,  or  1914  cents  per  pound. 

1903.  — The  inland  towns  were  never  so  bare  of  cotton  as  at 
the  close  of  the  crop  year,  August  31.  The  stocks  were,  all 
told,  less  than  1,000  bales. 

1904.  — J.  E.  Darcy,  referring  to  the  efficiency  of  Italian  labor 


KING  COTTON 


251 


in  the  cotton  fields  said : “These  people  take  to  cotton  planting  as 
readily  as  if  they  had  been  at  it  all  their  lives.  They  outclass  the 
negroes  in  every  way;  are  easier  managed,  more  industrious,  and 
better  behaved,  besides  they  provoke  no  race  antagonism.  They 
have  been  employed  for  several  years  in  Arkansas  and  were 
satisfied  themselves  and  gave  satisfaction  to  their  employers.” 

1906.  — A terrific  storm,  September  27^28,  damaged  the  crop 
in  the  eastern  section  of  the  State. 

The  executive  committee  of  the  Southern  Cotton  Association 
met  at  Hot  Springs  (September  7)  and  recommended  to  the 
planter  not  to  sell  any  cotton  during  the  season  “below  the 
bread  and  meat  line,”  10  cents  a pound.  About  the  same  date 
the  Farmers’  Union,  in  session  at  Texarkana,  fixed  upon  11  cents 
as  the  minimum  selling  price. 

1907.  — The  Legislature  passed  an  act  prohibiting  dealings  in 
cotton  futures. 

According  to  the  Census  there  were  2,115  cotton  gins  in  opera- 
tion, the  average  output  of  each  gin  being  357  bales. 

There  were  44  cotton  oil  mills  in  the  State  that  consumed  178,- 
858  tons  of  seed,  costing  .'f)2,797,339.  The  value  of  the  products, 
including  linters,  was  $4,553,690. 

The  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  stated  that  the  boll-weevil 
was  spreading  rapidly  through  - many  sections  of  the  State,  and 
predicted  the  ruin  of  the  crop  in  some  counties  in  1908. 

The  management  of  the  Sunny  Side  plantation  in  Chicot 
county,  by  O.  B.  Crittenden  & Co.,  is  a striking  example  of  what 
may  be  accomplished  on  a cotton  plantation  by  industrious 
and  thrifty  laborers.  The  plantation,  comprising  about  4,700 
acres  of  tillable  land  is  cultivated  by  Italians  and  negroes,  about 
80  per  cent,  of  the  former  and  20  per  cent,  of  the  latter. 
Besides  corn  and  hay,  about  2,500  bales  of  cotton  are  raised, 
worth  this  year,  approximately,  $150,000.  There  are  about  550 
Italians  who  rent  their  lands  for  $6.50  to  $7.00  per  acre.  They 
are  said  to  be  industrious,  peaceable  and  thrifty,  and  have 
prospered.  Within  the  past  three  years  the  Company  has  paid 
them  for  the  proceeds  of  their  crops  $23,000,  $46,000  and 
$34,000,  over  and  above  all  expenses.  Some  of  them  working 
no  more  than  40  acres  have  saved  up  in  eight  or  nine  years, 
as  much  as  $15,000. 


252 


ARKANSAS 


Tlic  receipts  of  Little  Rock  for  the  season  were  241,733 
liales,  as  compared  with  181,013  hales  in  1905-06.  The  largest 
mimher  of  bales  ever  received  was  266,073  in  1902-03,  when  the 
crop  of  the  State  was  nearly  a million  bales,  the  largest  on 
record. 


CHAPTER  XII 


Texxkssee,  axi)  its  Cottox  Crops  prom  1800  to  1908 — Num- 
ber OF  Cottox  !Mills  and  Spindles  and  Domestic  Con- 
sumption OF  Cottox — Historical  Data  Relating  to 
Cotton  Production. 

There  are  no  records  going  to  show  at  what  date  cotton 
culture  was  first  introduced  into  Tennessee.  It  was  certainly  not 
very  long  after  the  country  began  to  be  settled,  for  many  of 
the  early  pioneers  were  from  the  cotton-growing  sections  of 
other  States.  Moreover,  the  difficulty  of  separating  the  lint 
from  the  seed  had  been  overcome  by  the  invention  of  the  saw 
gin,  and  cotton  culture  was  attracting  unusual  attention 
wherever  it  could  be  successfully  grown. 

The  first  colony  in  Tennessee  settled  at  Watauga  (1768)  in 
the  eastern  portion  of  the  State,  but  whether  cotton  culture  was 
undertaken  -by  the  early  settlers  in  this  section  is  unknown.  The 
country  was  never  especially  adapted  to  its  culture,  and  if  culti- 
vated at  all  it  was  on  a very  small  scale.  But  the  early 
settlers  of  Middle  Tennessee  must  have  discovered  the  adapta- 
bility of  its  soil  and  climate  to  cotton  growing  not  many  years 
after  their  arrival  in  1779'. 

There  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  cotton  was  cultivated 
before  the  State  was  admitted  into  the  Union  in  1796,  as  the 
cotton  plant  was  placed  upon  the  seal  of  the  State  as  a symbol 
of  one  of  its  industries,  and  in  July  of  the  following  year  Mr. 
iMiller,  who  was  associated  with  Eli  Whitney  in  the  manufacture 
of  his  saw  gins,  proposed  to  his  partner  that  they  send  an  agent 
to  Knoxville,  “where  we  were  informed  that  cotton  was  valu- 
able,” and  to  Nashville  and  the  Cumberland  settlements,  to 
gather  information  concerning  the  culture  of  cotton  in  these 
parts  and  the  mode  of  cleaning  it.  On  the  return  of  the  agent 


2.53 


254 


TENNESSEE 


through  the  “back  parts  of  Virginia,”  he  was  to  look  for  an 
inland  market  for  the  consumption  of  cotton  cleaned  by  the  saw 
gin. 

Another  interesting  fact,  in  connection  with  the  early  history 
of  cotton  growing  in  the  State,  is  that  a variety  of  the  plant  was 
originated  (somewhere  in  the  Cumberland  region)  the  fame  of 
which  spread  over  all  of  the  cotton  regions  of  the  South.  It 
was  known  as  the  “Tennessee  green  seed”  variety,  was  in  com- 
mon use  as  early  as  1800,  and  was  no  doubt  the  best  variety 
of  upland  cotton  planted  prior  to  the  introduction  of  the  Mexi- 
can or  Petit  Gulf  variety. 

By  the  beginning  of  the  Nineteenth  Century  cotton  culture 
had  attained  such  importance  that  public  meetings  of  the  citizens 
were  called  at  various  places,  to  petition  the  legislature  to  pur- 
chase from  Miller  and  Whitney  their  patent  right  to  the  saw  gin 
within  the  State  limits.  At  one  of  these  meetings  held  at 
Nashville  General  Andrew  Jackson  presided.  The  following 
year  the  legislature  authorized  the  purchase  of  the  patent  right. 

In  1800,  the  cotton  crop  amounted  to  3,526  bales,  and  by  1808 
it  increased  to  12,600.  In  the  decade,  1810-1820,  it  increased  to 

50.000  bales,  and  the  next  decade,  1820-1830,  to  105,000.  In  the 
decade,  1830-1840,  the  production  dropped  as  low  as  59,000  bales, 
rose  to  194,000  in.  the  decade  following,  and  gradually  increased 
until  1859,  when  it  reached  296,000  bales,  the  largest  crop  made 
prior  to  the  Civil  War. 

The  first  crop  raised  after  the  war  (1866)  amounted  to 

168.000  bales,  and  four  years  later  it  increased  to  300,000.  The 
largest  crop  in  the  history  of  the  State,  436,000  bales,  was  made 
in  1878.  In  the  decade,  1880-1890,  the  production  ranged  from 

190.000  to  368,000  bales,  and  in  the  decade,  1890-1900,  from 

172.000  to  345,000  bales. 

The  area  planted  in  cotton  in  1879,  according  to  the  Census, 
was  722,000  acres,  and  the  estimate  of  the  Department  of  Agri- 
culture for  1906  was  822,000  acres,  showing  an  increase  since 
1879  of  100,000  acres,  or  about  14  per  cent.  The  production  in 
1879  was  331,000  bales,  as  reported  by  the  Census,  and  293,000 
bales  in  1906,  a decrease  during  the  same  period  of  38,000  bales, 
or  a little  over  11  per  cent. 


KING  COTTON 


255 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  Tennessee,  1800-1809 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

lSOO-01  . 

3.526 

1805-06 

9,8-26 

1801-0^^ 

4.386 

1806-07 

6.000 

1802-03 

6 000 

1807-08 

7.000 

1803-04  

6.500 

1808-09 

12,600 

1 .Sn4--n.T 

7.128 

1809-10  

11.000 

1804. — “On  his  plantation,”  says  Parton  in  his  Life  of 
General  Jackson,  “he  had  a cotton  gin,  a rarity  in  that  day,  upon 
which  there  was  a special  tax  of  $20  a year.  The  tax  books 
of  Davidson  county  show  that  in  180-1  there  were  but  24  gins 
in  the  county,  of  which  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson  was  the  owner  of 
one.  This  gin  ser\’ed  to  clean  his  own  cotton,  also  the  cotton 
of  his  neighbors,  and  that  which  he  took  in  exchange  for  his 
goods.  He  also  kept  a store.” 

1809. — A cotton  mill  was  built  and  began  operations  this  year. 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  Tennessee,  1810-1819 


Year 

Total  Crop 

1810-11 

8,000 

1811-12 

10,101 

1812-13 

11.000 

1813-14 

12,000 

1814-15 

14.000 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1815-16 

15,.S21 

1816-17 

21.024 

1817-18 

25,006 

1818-19 

45,000 

1819-20 

50,000 

1810. — There  were  said  to  have  been  four  small  cotton  mills 
in  operation  in  the  State  at  this  time. 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  Tennessee,  1820-1829 


Year 

Total  Crop 

1820-21 

58.000 

1821-22 

71,942 

1822-23 

63,000 

1823-24 

60,000 

1824-25 

68,000 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1825-26 

85,086 

1826-27 

82,402 

1827-28 

39,193 

1828-29 

44,822 

1829-30 

49.563 

1821. — The  first  cotton  in  West  Tennessee  was  grown  in 
Madison  county,  and  the  first  gin  was  brought  to  Jackson  from 
Nashville  in  1821. 

1824. — Niles’  Register  said  that  15,000  bales  of  cotton  were 


256 


TENNESSEE 


shipped  from  Nashville  this  year,  and  it  was  believed  that  the 
crop  of  1825  would  yield  30,000  bales. 

1826.  — The  manufacture  of  cotton  bagging  was  begun  this 
year  at  Nashville.  At  this  time  the  large  hempen  bagging  facto- 
ries at  Lexington,  Paris,  Danville,  Shelbyville  and  other  towns 
in  Kentucky  employed  almost  exclusively  negro  operatives,  the 
managers  and  machinists  only  being  white. 

1827.  — A disastrous  drought  cut  off  the  crop. 

A writer  in  the  American  Farmer  said: — “Last  February  a 
year  ago  I accompanied  a most  intelligent  Tennessee  planter 
from  Pittsburg  to  Nashville,  a Mr.  Nightingale,  formerly  of 
Rhode  Island.  He  was  then  taking  with  him  a foreman  from 
Providence,  R.  L,  to  superintend  his  cotton  factory.  This 
factory  is  located  in  Maury  county,  Tenn.,  and  the  machinery 
is  propelled  by  a never-failing  and  never-freezing  water-power. 
The  entire  labor  is  performed  by  slaves.  Mr.  Nightingale  now 
supplies  a large  portion  of  Tennessee  and  North  Alabama  with 
coarse  cotton  goods.  His  profits  are  said  to  be  quadruple  the 
profits  of  the  cotton  grower.” 

Cotton  was  worth  in  Memphis  from  7 to  9 cents  per  pound, 
bagging,  25  to  28  cents  per  yard,  bale  rope,  8 to  9 cents  per 
yard,  whiskey,  26  to  30  cents  per  gallon,  corn,  21  to  37  cents 
per  bushel,  and  flour  $3.50  to  $1.00  per  100  weight.  The  receipts 
of  cotton  at  Memphis  in  1826  were  only  300  bales,  but  in  1836 
increased  to  50,000  bales  and  in  1845  to  over  100,000  bales. 

1828.  — The  New  Orleans  Price  Current  said  that  54  bales 
of  cotton  from  the  plantation  of  the  President  of  the  United 
States  (General  Jackson)  near  Nashville,  was  sold  at  New 
Orleans  at  the  extraordinar}^  price  of  III/2  cents  per  pound.  It 
was  said  to  be  the  best  cotton  ever  received  from  Tennessee. 

Elijah  Boddiej  of  Gallatin,  in  a communication  to  the  Ameri- 
can Farmer  gave  the  following  description  of  a domestic  spin- 
ning machine  in  use  in  Tennessee  about  this  time:  “We  have 
had  in  common  use  in  this  part  of  the  country  for  some  time 
past,  a small  spinning  machine.  It  was  invented  by  one  of  our 
citizens  a few  years  ago,  and  I believe  he  obtained  a patent. 
Mine  is  about  4 feet  high,  3i/^  feet  long  and  2 feet  wide.  At 
one  end  there  is  a gin  and  six  saws,  at  the  other  end  are  as 


KING  COTTON 


257 


many  spindles,  with  a spool  on  each,  to  receive  the  spun  yarn — 
and  in  the  middle  are  placed  two  cylindrical  cards,  as  near  each 
other  as  may  be  without  touching'.  The  seed-cotton  is  placed 
in  the  gin — the  spinner  takes  the  handle,  and  turns  away  until 
the  spools  are  filled,  taking  care  fo  mend  the  threads  if  any 
should  break,  and  in  this  way  a woman  can  spin  five  times  as 
much  as  she  can  on  the  common  wheel  and  cards.  The  number 
of  spindles  may  be  increased  or  diminished  at  pleasure ; six  is 
the  most  common.  The  machines  cost  $20  for  each  spindle. 
General  Jackson  has  used  this  valuable  little  machine  for  several 
years,  and  with  one  little  girl  clothed  his  large  family  most 
comfortably.” 


CoMMERci.vL  Cotton  Crops  of  Tennessee,  1830-1839 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1830-31 

59,708 

183.5-36 

61,785 

1831-32 

60,858 

1836-37 

58,850 

1832-33 

60.516 

1837-38 

78,274 

1833-34 

75,113 

1838-39 

61,719 

1834-35 

85,193 

1839-40 

76,305 

1830. — This  year  the  receipts  of  cotton  at  Memphis  amounted 
to  only  about  1,000  bales.  Ten  years  later  there  was  an  increase 
to  35,000,  in  1850  to  150,000  and  1860  to  361,000  bales.  From 
1870  to  1880  the  receipts  ranged  from  322,000  to  511,000  bales, 
from  1880  to  1890  from  339,000  to  723,000  bales,  and  from  1890 
to  1900  from  427,000  to  773,000  bales. 

1832.  — The  crop  of  this  year  was  reported  as  an  unusually 
good  one,  particularly  in  the  western  part  of  the  State. 

1833.  — John  G.  Goodman  and  W.  S.  McDonald,  of  Wilson 
count}',  obtained  a patent  for  a cotlon  planter. 

1835. — The  exports  of  cotton  from  Tennessee  and  North 
Alabama  this  year  were  estimated  at  120,000  bales. 

Frost  greatly  damaged  the  crops. 

1838.  — The  Gazette,  of  Memphis,  stated  that  200,000  bales 
of  cotton  were  shipped  this  year  down  the  Mississippi  river. 

The  crop  was  injured  by  drought  and  the  boll-worm. 

1839.  — The  cotton  mills  in  the  State  operated  at  this  time 
about  16,800  spindles. 

17 


258 


TENNESSEE 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Tennessee,  1840-1849 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1840-41 

Bales 

58,657 

.55,625 

95,422 

94,660 

102,204 

115.662 

Bales 

1841-42 

1842-43 

do 

184,3-44 

1844-45 

1845-46 

1846-47 

77.108 

1847-48.  

83,933 

7,000 

12,000 

1848-49 

139,2,32 

194,.5,32 

1849-50 

6,411 

33 

36,000 

1844. — A factory  was  built  about  this  year,  at  Lebanon,  that 
consumed  600  bales  of  cotton  annually. 

For  the  first  time  the  crop  exceeded  100,000  bales. 

1849. — The  Census  returns  for  Fayette  county  showed  the 
highest  total  production,  28,302  bales  of  400  pounds  each. 

A Memphis  correspondent  stated  that  the  average  yield  to 
the  hand  would  not  exceed  1,500  pounds  of  lint,  in  the  western 
portion  of  the  State.  The  same  authority  said  it  had  been 
conceded  by  cotton  brokers  that  Shelby  county  was  unsurpassed 
for  its  production  of  fine  staple  cotton. 

Tt  was  estimated  that  Memphis  had  shipped  150,000  bales, 
the  product  of  6 or  8 counties  around  the  city. 

Considerable  damage  was  done  to  young  cotton  plants  by 
frosts  the  middle  of  April. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Tennessee,  1850-1859 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1850-51 

Bales 

166.732 

Bales 

8,000 

30 

.36,000 

1851-52 

206,312 

7,000 

No  data 

No  data 

1852-53 

229,153 

5,000 

do 

do 

185,3-54 

196,1.51 

7,656 

do 

do 

1854-55 

204,99.3 

7,020 

do 

do 

1855-56 

288,799 

7,146 

do 

do 

1856-57 

219,635 

8,008 

do 

do 

1857-58 

226,663 

7,378 

do  ‘ 

do 

1858-59 

221,172 

8,.35.3 

do 

do 

18.59-60 

296,464 

8,854 

30 

29,850 

KING  COTTON 


259 


1850.  — The  first  patent  ever  granted  for  a cotton-picking 
device  was  to  Rembert  and  Prescott  of  Memphis.  Picking  disks 
and  strippers  were  the  chief  features  of  the  device. 

Ramsey,  in  his  Annals  of  Tennessee,  estimated  the  cotton 
crop  of  the  State  in  1850  at  191,532  bales  of  100  pounds  each, 
and  in  1852  at  172,625  bales,  the  number  of  cotton  factories 
at  28  and  value  of  produce,  $151,676. 

iMemphis  and  Nashville,  as  cotton  receiving  and  distributing 
points,  assumed  considerable  importance  about  this  time. 

The  following  from  the  Memphis  Bulletin,  will  give  an  idea 
of  the  extent  of  the  cotton  commerce  of  that  city  about  this  time. 
Cotton  receipts  at  Memphis,  1850-1,  were  163,000  bales;  1851-2, 
172,000;  1852-3.  202,000;  1853-1,  188,000;  1851-5,  200,000; 
1855-6,  295,000;  1856-7,  231,000;  1857-8,  213,000;  1858-9, 
325,180 ; 1859-60,  392,380. 

1851.  — About  this  time  E.  Steadman  (of  Tennessee)  in  a 
pamphlet  on  the  Extension  of  Cotton  and  Wool  ^Factories  at  the 
South,  recommended  the  use  of  slave  labor  in  the  mills,  such 
labor,  says  De  Bow  (1851),  having  been  found  most  advan- 
tageous wherever  adopted. 

The  crop  for  the  first  time  exceeded  200,000  bales. 

The  following  from  the  proceedings  of  the  Commercial  Con- 
vention held  at  Richmond  shows  the  interior  routes  by  which 
cotton  about  this  period  reached  the  markets  of  the  East:  “For 
years  past  the  cotton  has  gone  up  the  Ohio  river  from  Tennessee, 
through  the  Pennsylvania  and  New  York  canals  to  all  factories 
in  the  interior  of  these  States  and  often  to  the  cities  of  Phila- 
delphia and  New  York.  We  recollect  last  September  (1850)  of 
one  shipment  of  797  bales,  shipped  from  Louisville,  via  the  Ohio 
and  New  York  canals  to  New  York  City.  The  freights  were 
less  than  by  way  of  New  Orleans  and  the  difference  in  exchange 
and  insurance  was  near  2 per  cent,  in  favor  of  the  Northern 
route.  The  amount  oF  cotton  that  passed  up  the  Ohio  river  last 
year  (1850)  is  estimated  by  one  familiar  with  the  trade  at  60,000 
bales.  This  season  nearly  all  the  boats  from  Tennessee  and 
Cumberland  rivers,  bound  up  the  Ohio  river,  are  freighted  more 
or  less  with  cotton.  The  packets  between  JMemphis  and  Louis- 
ville and  Cincinnati,  of  which  there  are  several  lines,  take  cotton 
up  the  river  nearly  everv  trip.” 


260 


TENNESSEE 


1852. — One  of  the  resolutions  adopted  by  the  Cotton  Planters 
Convention  held  this  year  in  INIemphis  was: — That  the  attention 
of  our  Senators  and  Representatives  in  Congress  be  called  to 
the  propriety  of  bringing  before  the  administration  the  impor- 
tance of  making  the  cotton  interest  a subject  of  instruction  to 
our  foreign  and  diplomatic  agents : That  this  Convention 
regards  the  establishment  of  a direct  communication  between  our 
southern  ports  and  Europe,  and  the  encouragement  and  protec- 
tion of  this  system  by  the  National  Government,  connecting  there- 
with ample  mail  facilities,  as  a necessary  feature  in  the  com- 
mercial independence  of  the  South  and  West. 

1854.  — A State  Board  of  Agriculture  was  organized  this 
3'ear. 

1855.  — About  this  time  two  cotton-seed-oil  mills  were  built  in 
IMemphis. 

1856.  — The  East  Tennessee,  Adrginia  & Georgia  R.  R.,  now 
the  Southern  Ry.,  from  Bristol  to  Chattanooga  (242  miles),  was 
chartered  in  1849  and  completed  October  8. 

1857.  — F.  A.  Wells  obtained  a patent  for  two  delinting  cotton 
gins,  and  also  for  a cotton  seed  huller.  But  the  most  important 
machine  for  hulling  cotton  seed  was  invented  this  year  by  William 
R.  Fee,  of  Cincinnati. 

Patents  were  obtained  by  William  Badger  and  Justice  & Gal- 
breath  for  cotton  seed  planters. 

1858.  — The  IMemphis  & Charleston  R.  R.,  now  operated  by 
the  Southern  Ry.,  from  Memphis  to  Stevenson,  Ala.  (272  miles), 
was  chartered  February,  1846,  and  opened  on  July  4,  1858. 
From  Stevenson  to  Chattanooga  the  traffic  of  this  line  is  carried 
over  the  tracks  of  the  Nashville,  Chattanooga  & St.  Louis  Ry. 

1859.  — The  Census  returns  for  Lawrence  county  showed  the 
highest  total  production. 

The  jMobile  & Ohio  R.  R.,  from  Mobile  to  Columbus,  Ivy. 
(472  miles),  was  chartered  1848-50,  and  opened  for  traffic  during 
this  year. 

1860.  — The  Nashville  & Decatur  R.  R.,  now  the  Louisville 
and  Nashville,  from  Nashville  to  Decatur,  Ala.  (122  miles),  was 
completed  this  year. 

The  Chicago,  St.  Louis  & New  Orleans  R.  R.,  now  the 


KING  COTTON 


261 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Tennessee,  1860-1869' 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1860-61  

Bales 

211.847 

Bales 

10,075 

No  data 

No  data 

1861-62 

No  data 

No  data 

do 

do 

1862-63 

do 

do 

do 

do 

1863-64 

do 

do 

do 

do 

1864-65 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

1866-67 

168,014 

4,895 

do 

do 

1867-68 

181,353 

do 

do 

1868-69 

206,085 

5,340 

do 

do 

1869-70  

181,842 

6,528 

28 

27,923 

Illinois  Central,  from  New  Orleans  to  East  Cairo  (547  miles), 
was  chartered  in  1852,  and  opened  from  Canton,  Miss.,  to  Jack- 
son,  Tenn.,  in  1860,  and  completed  to  the  Ohio  river,  opposite 
Cairo,  in  1873. 

There  were  1,253  miles  of  railway  in  operation  in  the  State 
this  year. 

1864. — The  tax  on  cotton  collected  in  the  State  by  the  Federal 
government  was  $488,326 ; in  1865,  $877,901 ; 1866,  $2,148,438 ; 
in  1867,  $1,929,302,  and  in  1868,  $2,429,494. 

The  shipments  of  cotton  from  Memphis  in  1865-66  according 
to  the  Argus  of  that  city,  amounted  to  180,900  bales. 

1866. — The  second  patent  for  a cotton  picking  machine  with 
brush  attachments  was  granted  to  A.  Tiensch,  of  Memphis. 

1869.  — The  Nashville,  Chattanooga  & St.  Louis  R.  R..  from 
Chattanooga  to  Hickman,  Ky.,  322  miles  (a  consolidation  of  the 
Nashville  & Chattanooga  R.  R.,  chartered  in  1845  and  opened 
in  1854,  and  the  Nashville  & Northwestern  R.  R.,  chartered  in 
1854),  was  completed  this  year. 

The  Census  returns  for  Shelby  county  showed  the  highest 
total  production,  32,434  bales. 

George  W.  Grader,  of  iMemphis,  obtained  a patent  for  a 
machine  to  remove  the  lint  from  cotton  seed.  The  first  patent 
for  such  a machine  was  granted  in  Jtme  of  the  same  year  to 
William  F.  Pratt  of  Bridgewater,  Mass. 

1870.  — The  crop  for  the  first  time  reached  300,000  bales. 

There  were  1,492  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this  year. 


262 


TENNESSEE 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Tennessee,  1870-1879 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1870-71 

Bales 

300.000 

Bales 

7,189 

No  data 

No  data 

1871-72 

210,000 

9.480 

do 

do 

1872-73 

260,000 

10,221 

do 

do 

187.3-74 

300,000 

13,518 

42 

47,058 

1874-75 

160,000 

4,443 

40 

.55,384 

1875-76 

3.39,000 

7,370 

No  data 

No  data 

1876-77 

310.000 

6,985 

do 

do 

1877-78 

260.000 

8,260 

do 

do 

1878-79 

436,190 

10,230 

do 

do 

1879-80 

330,621 

10,436 

16 

35.736 

1873. — The  Cotton  Exchange  at  Memphis  was  organized  in 
December. 

The  cotton-worm  was  very  destructive  this  year.  Shelby 
county  reported  a loss  of  50  per  cent.,  caused  by  the  boll-worm 
and  the  caterpillar. 

187-1. — The  Chesapeake,  Ohio  &■  Southern  R.  R.,  now  a 
part  of  the  Illinois  Central  System,  from  Memphis  to  Louisville 
(392  miles),  was  completed  in  September. 

1876. — In  a speech  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  Mr. 
Bright  (of  Tennessee)  took  the  position  that  to  the  tax  on  cotton 
must  be  attributed  tbe  small  crops,  as  compared  with  those  made 
prior  to  the  war.  In  1859-60,  he  said,  the  South  produced 
5,861,291  bales  of  cotton.  In  1872  it  produced  only  3,930,508 
bales,  when  it  should  have  produced  7,000,000  but  for  this  tax. 

1878.  — The  largest  crop  in  the  history  of  the  State,  436,000 
bales,  was  produced  this  year. 

1879.  — Shelby  county  showed  the  largest  production,  viz. : 
46,388  bales,  and  Lake  county  the  highest  yield  per  acre,  .74  of 
a bale. 

There  were  11  cotton  oil  mills  in  the  State. 

The  Department  of  Agriculture  estimated  the  loss  from 
boll-worms,  from  1865  to  1878,  inclusive,  at  147,000  bales. 

1880.  — There  were  1,843  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this 
year. 

1881.  — Boll-worms  destroyed  1,374  bales  of  cotton,  as  esti- 
mated by  the  Department  of  Agriculture. 

At  Memphis,  as  well  as  at  other  cotton  markets  in  the  South, 


KING  COTTON 


263 


Commercial  Crops  Xnd  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Tennessee,  1880-1889 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

18S0-S1 

Bales 

368.197 

Bales 

19.642 

No  data 

No  data 

1881-82 

300.000 

22.185 

do 

do 

1882-83 

337.000 

24,195 

do 

do 

1883-84 

310.700 

26,282 

do 

1SS4-S0 

313,800 

24,427 

do 

do 

1885-86 

321.638 

29.551 

1886-87 

298,133 

30.727 

28 

90,793 

1887-88 

316,646 

34.724 

27 

88,490 

1888-89 

36,638 

28 

99.092 

1889-90 

190,579 

33,114 

20 

97,524 

this  was  a year  of  unprecedented  speculation  in  cotton  futures, 
on  account  of  the  shortness  of  the  crop.  Everybody  who  could 
raise  a hundred  or  two  dollars  bought  futures,  some  even  mort- 
gaging their  property  to  get  money  for  this  purpose.  IMany 
made  money  while  cotton  was  advancing  in  the  earlier  months 
of  the  season  (from  11  to  13  cents),  but  many  others  lost 
heavily  when  later  on  there  was  a decline  to  9 cents  a pound.  It 
was  estimated  that  the  South  lost  from  thirty  to  forty  millions 
speculating  in  futures  during  the  winter  of  1881-82. 

1882.  — In  the  latter  part  of  the  season  the  boll-worm  dam- 
aged the  crops  considerably.  In  1881  this  insect  also  seriously 
injured  the  crop. 

1883.  — There  were  18  cotton-oil  mills  in  operation  in  the 
State  at  this  time. 

1881. — The  crop  was  damaged  by  drought  in  the  Memphis 
district. 

1887.  — The  Kansas  City,  Memphis  & Birmingham  R.  R., 
from  ]\Iemphis  to  Birmingham  (251  miles)  was  completed  on 
October  1. 

About  13,000  bales  of  cotton  were  destroyed  by  fire  at  I\Iem- 
phis,  November  17.  It  is  said  that  in  all  30,000  bales  were 
destroyed  this  year  by  fires,  which  also  occurred  at  Savannah, 
Ga.,  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  and  Greenville,  Texas. 

1888.  — The  second  largest  crop  in  the  history  of  the  State, 
357,596  bales,  was  produced  this  year. 

1889.  — The  Tennessee  Midland  R.  R.,  now  the  Nashville, 
Chattanooga  & St.  Louis  Ry.,  from  (Memphis  to  Perryville  ( 135 
miles),  was  chartered  in  1886  and  opened  in  June. 


264 


TENNESSEE 


Shelby  county  liad  the  largest  area  in  cotton  and  the  highest 
total  production,  viz. : 100,445  acres  and  55,874  bales. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Tennessee,  1890-1899 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1890-91 

Bales 

345.000 

Bales 

32,220 

23 

100,235 

1891-92 

310,095 

33,759 

22 

101, .5.34 

1892-9.3 

207,576 

3,3,370 

23 

110.485 

189.3-94 

276.000 

24,807 

22 

95.219 

1894-95 

304,981 

30,914 

22 

95,866 

1895-96 

172,560 

28,732 

30 

115,743 

1896-97 

2.36,781 

30,746 

28 

113,119 

1897-98 

268,6.35 

35,773 

29 

102,834 

1898-99 

322,820 

36,358 

29 

103,366 

1899-00 

215,175 

34,882 

32 

155,997 

1890. — According  to  the  Census  there  were  twenty  cotton 
mills  in  operation  having  97,524  spindles  and  consuming  83,114 
hales  of  cotton. 

There  were  2,767  miles  of  railway  in  operation  this  year. 

1895. — At  a general  meeting  of  the  Memphis  Cotton 
Exchang’e,  held  in  December,  resolutions  were  passed  urgently 
recommending  to  planters  that  the  production  of  home  supplies 
be  made  the  first  consideration  and  that  the  acreage  in  cotton  be 
not  increased.  The  following  observations  were  embodied  in  the 
resolutions : — “The  commercial  value  of  the  total  crop  of  1894-95 
was  $297,037,530,  and  only  exceeded  the  short  crop  of  1892-93, 
$12,272,018,  although  the  production  was  3,200,886  bales  greater. 
This  enormous  crop,  with  its  proportionately  low  price,  netted 
the  producer  less  money  than  will  the  present  crop  with  a smaller 
acreage  and  a production  of  nearly  one-third  less  in  bales.  It 
having  been  practically  demonstrated  liy  the  results  of  the  present 
season  that  a small  crop  of  cotton  actually  brings  to  the  pro- 
ducer more  money  than  an  extremely  large  crop,  and  that  the 
Southern  cotton  producers  having  grown  their  supplies  at  home, 
thereby  making  cotton  the  surplus,  or  money  crop,  are  generally 
in  better  financial  condition  than  they  have  been  in  years,  it  is 
unquestionably  to  the  interest  of  the  farmers  not  to  produce  a 
crop  greater  than  the  requirements  of  manufacturers.  The 
growing  of  a large  crop  of  cotton  entails  proportionately  greater 


: 


THE  STEAMER  NATCHEZ  HISCHARGINC.  4.000  RALES  OF  COTTON  AT  NEW  ORLEANS. 


KIXG  COTTON 


265 


expense  than  a small  crop.  The  cultivating,  picking,  ginning, 
freight,  etc.,  in  marketing  the  additional  bales  is  an  immense 
item,  especially  so  when  prices  are  depreciated  by  the  fact  that 
the  crop  is  a large  one.  Experience  of  the  past  has  demon- 
strated that  in  a large  crop  year,  with  depreciated  prices  of 
cotton,  rental  and  realty  values  also  depreciate,  whereas,  with  a 
small  crop  and  better  prices,  rental  and  realty  values  improve 
proportionately.  The  high  range  of  prices  which  have  prevailed 
this  season  as  compared  to  last  season  has  been,  we  fear,  the 
means  of  stimulating  on  the  part  of  planters  a desire  to  increase 
the  acreage  of  cotton  for  the  coming  year,  and  consumers  are 
now  holding  off,  laying  in  a supply  of  the  staple  under  a belief 
that  an  increase  in  the  acreage  will  depreciate  present  prices 
and  enable  themi  to  get  what  they  need  at  lower  values.” 

1896.  — The  Department  of  Agriculture  ascertained  the  aver- 
age cost  of  cotton  production  this  year  to  be  5.26  cents  per 
pound. 

The  ^Memphis  Cotton  Exchange  recommended  and  adopted  as 
the  standard  size  for  cotton  bales — a bale  measuring  28  inches 
wide  by  54  inches  long. 

1897.  — Eloods  in  the  Mississippi  river  in  April  and  May 
caused  considerable  damage  to  crops  in  the  river  counties. 

At  a meeting  of  the  American  Cotton  Growers'  Protective 
Association  held  at  jNIemphis  (December  20),  a strong  plea  for 
the  reduction  of  cotton  acreage  was  made  by  President  Lane, 
who  pointed  out  that  by  destroying  the  annual  surplus  the  law 
of  supply  and  demand  would  prevail ; competition  would  inter- 
vene and  the  cost  of  production  of  cotton,  which  is  a fair 
standard  of  its  value,  would  be  the  basis  of  its  market  value. 

1898.  — In  an  article  on  “Memphis  as  a Cotton  Center,” 
Charles  E.  Morrow  said : “Within  a radius  of  150  miles 
embraced  in  her  territory  is  raised  every  grade  and  style  of  cotton 
kno^vn  to  the  trade,  excepting  the  sea-island.  From  her  ware- 
houses are  shipped  each  year  thousands  upon  thousands  of  bales 
of  cotton  to  the  southern  mills  of  Georgia  and  the  Carolinas,. 
the  manufacturers  of  New  England  and  Canada,  to  Liverpool, 
Bremen,  Havre  and  Russia,  and  to  the  far  eastern  mills  of  Japan. 
Cotton  from  one-half  to  one  and  a half  inches  in  length,  and 


266 


TENNESSEE 


from  dog-tail  to  fair  are  to  be  found.  And  this  naturally  brings 
to  our  market  the  representatives  of  every  cotton  consuming 
countr}',  and  the  largest  cotton  buying  firms  of  the  world  have 
their  own  houses  or  their  trusted  representatives  here.” 

1899. — Cotton  was  cultivated  this  year  by  53,405  farmers,  the 
area  planted  being  623,137  acres  and  the  production  in  lint 
cotton  117,504,070  pounds,  or  an  average  of  189  pounds  to  the 
acre.  The  counties  having  the  largest  acreage  were,  Shelby, 
Fayette,  Tipton,  Haywood,  Hardeman,  Madison  and  Lauderdale, 
ranking  in  the  order  named. 

There  were  3,1311/2  miles  of  railway  in  operation  in  the  State 
this  year. 

Shelby  county,  according  to  the  Census,  had  the  largest 
total  production  of  any  county  in  the  State,  viz. : 3^,693  bales. 

There  were  in  operation  this  year  834  cotton  gins ; in  1900 
there  were  826  and  the  year  following,  810.  According  to  the 
Census  the  average  output  of  each  gin  for  each  season  was, 
respectively,  258,  276,  and  253  bales.  The  average  cost  for  gin- 
ning and  baling  square  bales  in  1899  was  $2.63,  and  round 
bales,  $1.41  per  bale. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Tennessee,  1900-1908 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1900-01 

Bales 

227,601 

Bales 

33,305 

33 

196,761 

1901-02 

204,538 

328,019 

45,240 

32 

200,976 

1902-03 

45,385 

32 

241,078 

1903-04 

250,437 

45,656 

31 

258,262 

1904-05 

321.006 

51.335 

32 

2.55,412 

1905-06 

269,030 

55,830 

29 

252,184 

1906-07 

293,02.3 

266,4.33 

68,971 

33 

266,342 

1907-08 ■ 

58,631 

33 

285,222 

1900. — There  were  in  operation  this  year  fifteen  cotton  oil 
mills  that  consumed  168,307  tons  of  seed  valued  at  $1,848,829. 
The  crude  products  manufactured  were  valued  at  $2,737,038. 

The  receipts  at  Memphis  for  five  years  were:  1900-01,  443,105 
bales;  1901-02,  378,349  bales;  1902-03,  557,553  bales;  1903-04, 
747,289  bales ; 1904-05,  983,604  bales. 

Memphis  received  the  first  new  bale  of  the  season  from  Tunica 


KING  COTTON 


267 


county,  ]Miss.,,  on  August  15,  or  three  days  later  than  in  1899, 
and  three  days  earlier  than  the  average  date. 

1903. — Some  of  the  cotton  mills  in  the  State  closed  down  on 
account  of  the  high  price  of  raw  material. 

The  stocks  at  interior  towns  at  the  close  of  the  season,  August 
31,  were  the  smallest  in  many  years,  and  amounted  to  less  than 
2,000  bales, 

1905.  — At  a meeting  of  the  Madison  County  Cotton  Growers’ 
Association,  held  at  Jackson  in  May,  reports  from  all  sections  of 
the  county  showed  a reduction  of  31  per  cent,  in  the  cotton 
acreage. 

The  Census  ginners  report  in  November,  caused  a sensational 
advance  of  “futures”  in  the  JMemphis  market.  Within  a few 
minutes  prices  on  the  Exchange  advanced  $5.00  a bale. 

1906.  — The  largest  sale  of  spot  cotton  ever  made  in  Memphis 
occurred  in  February,  when  5,500  bales  were  sold  to  a large 
exporter.  The  price  paid  was  9J4  cents,  or  a total  of  more  than 
$275,000. 

1907.  — According  to  the  Census  there  were  673  cotton  gins 
in  operation,  the  average  output  of  each  gin  being  396  bales. 

There  were  18  cotton  oil  mills  in  the  State  that  consumed 
105,961  tons  of  seed  costing  $1,612,396.  The  value  of  the  prod- 
ucts, including  linters,  was  $2,711,075. 


CHAPTER  XIII 


Missouri,  axd  its  Cotton  Crops  frosi  1821  to  1908 — Num- 
ber OF  Cotton  Miles  and  Spindles  and  Domestic  Con- 
sumption OF  Cotton — Historical  Data  Relating  to 
Cotton  Production. 

It  is  uncertain  at  what  time  the  cultivation  of  cotton  was  first 
undertaken  in  Missouri,  but  Stoddard^  says  that  in  1803  it  was 
produced  in  the  neighborhood  of  St.  Louis,  “where  some  of  the 
farmers  raised  a sufficient  quantity  of  that  article  to  clothe  their 
families.  One  of  them  who  emigrated  from  Georgia,  is  of  the 
opinion  that  the  cotton  raised  in  that  State  (Missouri)  is  longer 
but  not  so  fine.”  The  first  record  of  any  exports  from  the  State 
was  26  bales  in  1824,  and  10  bales  the  following  year.  Sixty- 
seven  were  shipped  out  in  1827,  and  the  Census  of  1839  showed 
a production  of  333  bales,  but  there  are  no  available  records 
relating  to  the  crops  of  other  previous  years. 

During  the  decade,  1840-1850,  the  production  was  small, 
ranging  from  271  to  1,627  bales.  The  next  decade,  1850-1860, 
it  increased  from  2,000  to  41,000  bales.  The  first  crop  after  the 
Civil  War  (1866)  was  6,601  bales.  In  the  next  decade,  1870- 
1880,  the  crops  ranged  from  2,000  to  20,000  bales. 

Dr.  Loughbridge,  Special  Agent  of  the  Tenth  Census  (1880), 
makes  the  following  observations  regarding  cotton  production  in 
Missouri : — “The  maximum  of  production  thus  far  reached  was  in 
the  years  preceding  the  late  Civil  War,  the  crop  of  1859,  accord- 
ing to  the  Eighth  Census  being  41,188  bales.  Various  causes 
have  contributed  to  very  greatly  reduce  this  production,  and  we 
find  that  cotton  is  not  so  prominent  a crop  now  as  then. 
Among  the  causes  may  be  mentioned  the  disturbed  condition  of 
the  State  during  the  war,  the  demoralization  of  the  negroes 
(almost  the  only  cotton-field  laborers)  consequent  upon  freedom, 
the  intensity  of  cotton  production  in  the  Southern  States,  and  the 


^ History  of  Louisiana. 


26S 


KING  COTTON 


269 


low  market  prices  which  made  other  products  far  more  profitable. 
The  area  over  which  cotton  cultivation  is  extended  embraces  a 
far  less  territory  now  than  in  1859,  for  in  that  year  cotton  was 
planted  in  a few  counties  as  far  north  as  the  Iowa  State  line, 
while  in  1879  the  Missouri  river  formed  the  northern  limit.” 

In  the  decade,  1880-1890,  the  production  ranged  from  16,000 
to  26,000  bales,  and  in  the  decade  following,  from  12,000  to 
33,000  bales.  The  largest  crop  in  the  history  of  the  State,  51,763 
bales,  was  produced  in  1906. 

In  1899  cotton  was  cultivated  to  a more  or  less  extent  in  23 
counties,  in  15  of  which  the  total  production  was  only  112  bales. 
At  present  the  production  is  confined  to  12  counties  bordering 
the  Arkansas  State  line.  The  counties  of  largest  production  are 
located  in  the  extreme  southeast  corner  of  the  State,  the  cotton 
lands  of  which  are  highly  productive. 


CoMWERCI.\L  CoTTOX  CrOPS  OF  MISSOURI,  1840-1849 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1S40-41 

271 

1845-46 

482 

1841-42 

301 

1846-47 

545 

1842-43 

417 

1847-48 

966 

1843-44 

379 

1848-49 

1,434 

1844-45 

473 

1849-50 

1,627 

# 

1823.  — Experiments  on  an  extensive  scale  were  made  in 
cotton  culture. 

1824.  — Among  the  receipts  at  New  Orleans  for  the  commer- 
cial crop  year,  1824-25,  were  26  bales  credited  to  Missouri.  As 
the  Arkansas  cotton  is  separately  credited  to  that  State  this  26 
bales  was  no  doubt  the  growth  of  the  southwestern  counties  of 
IMissouri. 

1836. — A Chamber  of  Commerce  was  organized  at  St.  Louis, 
which  in  1862  was  succeeded  by  the  Merchants’  Exchange. 

1847. — The  annual  domestic  consumption  at  this  time  was 
about  2,500  bales. 

The  boll-worm  made  its  appearance  and  damaged  the  crop. 

1849. — Frosts  about  the  middle  of  April  damaged  the  young 
plants. 


270 


MISSOURI 


No  returns  of  cotton  production  this  year  were  made  bv  the 
Census. 


Co.MMERCiAL  Cotton  Crops  of  Missouri,  1850-1859 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1850-51 

2,145 

1855—56 

10,929 

1851-52 

3.432 

1856-57 

12  238 

1852-53 

4,690 

1857—58 

16,948 

1853-54 

5,492 

1858—59 

25,728 

7 030 

1859-60  . 

41,188 

1852. — The  domestic  consumption  was  nearly  3,000  bales  per 
annum. 

1855. — About  this  time  a cotton-seed-oil  mill  was  built  at 

I 

St.  Louis. 

1859'. — There  were  two  cotton  mills  in  the  State  operating 
about  5,000  spindles,  that  consumed  from  2,000  to  3,000  bales 
annually. 

According  to  the  Census,  Stoddard  county  produced  the  larg- 
est crop,  19,100  bales,  of  400  pounds  each. 

The  largest  crop  in  the  history  of  the  State  to  date,  41,188 
bales,  was  produced  this  year. 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of*Missouri,  1860-1869 


Year 

Total  Crop 

Year 

Total  Crop 

1860-61  

20.432 

No  data 
do 
do 
do 

186.5-66 

No  data 

6,601 

5,282 

2,797 

1,246 

1861-62  

1866-67 

1862-63 

1867-68 

1863-64 

1868-69 

1864-65 

1869-70 

1860. — The  domestic  consumption  this  year  was  2,431  bales. 

1866. — The  domestic  consumption  was  3,740  bales,  and  the 
two  years  following  4,216  and  4,080  bales,  respectively. 

The  tax  on  cotton  collected  by  the  Federal  government  was 
.'{^247, 289.  The  amount  collected  the  three  previous  years  was 
.1182,106 ; and  in  1867,  $96,722  and  in  1868,  $65,982. 

1869. — This  year  there  were  three  cotton  mills  in  the  State, 
operating  16,715  spindles  and  consuming  nearly  5.000  bales. 


KING  COTTON 


271 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Missouri,  1870-1879 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1870-71 

Bales 

2.168 

Bales 

5,460 

No  data 

No  data 

1871-72 ■ 

1,960 

5,200 

do 

do 

1872-73 

3,219 

10,112 

do 

do 

187.3-74 

4,234 

7,288 

4 

18,656 

1874-75 

4,963 

7,280 

No  data 

No  data 

187.5-76 

7,442 

4,556 

do 

do 

1876-77 

8,874 

4,318 

do 

do 

1877-78 

11,930 

5,131 

do 

do 

1878-79 

15,9.33 

6,324 

do 

do 

1879-80 

20,318 

6,399 

3 

19,312 

1872.  — C.  C.  Thomas,  of  New  ^ladrid  county,  made  1,600 
pounds  of  seed  cotton  to  the  acre. 

1873.  — A Cotton  Exchange  was  organized  in  October  at 
St.  Louis,  which  was  incorporated  the  following  year. 

1874.  — The  St.  Louis,  Iron  IMountain  & Southern  R.  R., 
from  St.  Louis  to  Texarkana  (490  miles),  M-as  opened  this  year. 

1879. — Dunklin  county,  according  to  the  Census,  was  the 
largest  producing  county,  viz. : 7,361  bales,  and  Pemiscot  showed 
the  highest  yield  per  acre,  .75  of  a bale. 

There  were  two  cotton  oil  mills  in  the  State. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Missouri,  1880-1889 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

N umber 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

Bales 

Bales 

1880-81  

25,995 

2,138 

No  data 

No  data 

1881-82 

18,000 

2,726 

do 

do 

1882-83 

2,3,004 

1,722 

do 

do 

188.3-84 

18,893 

1,870 

do 

do 

1884-85 

18,736 

1,738 

do 

do 

1885-86 

21,7,34 

2,096 

do 

do 

1886-87 

21,299 

2,200 

1 

7,000 

1887-88 

23,316 

2,100 

1 

6,500 

1888-89 

22,984 

2,100 

1 

7,000 

1889-90 

15,856 

1,385 

1 

5,492 

1882.  — A new  Cotton  Exchange  building  was  completed  at 
St.  Louis. 

1883.  — The  Texas  & St.  Louis  R.  R.,  now  the  St.  Louis 
Southwestern  R.  R.,  from  Bird’s  Point  to  Texarkana  (418 
miles),  was  completed  August  12th. 


272 


MISSOURI 


1889. — Dunklin  county  had  both  the  largest  area  in  cotton 
and  the  highest  total  production,  viz.:  21,559  acres,  and  6,065 
bales. 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Missouri,  1890-1899 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1890-91 

Bales 

12,664 

Bales 

1.52« 

No  data 

No  data 

1891-92 

52,521 

3,783 

1 

7,000 

1892-93 

17,846 

1,559 

No  data 

No  data 

1893-94 

20,000 

846 

do 

do 

1894-95 

25,476 

671 

1 

3,500 

1895-96 

11,816 

1,629 

4 

14,004 

1896-97 

24,119 

2,4.35 

2 

12,116 

1897-98 

26,848 

4,023 

3 

12,502 

1898-99 

.33,120 

3,017 

3 

11,868 

1899-00 

19,377 

3,720 

4 

15,744 

1896.  — The  Department  of  Agriculture  ascertained  the  aver- 
age cost  of  cotton  production  this  year  to  be  5.06  cents  per 
pound. 

1897.  — Floods  in  the  Mississippi  river  in  April  and  May  inun- 
dated the  cotton  lands  in  seven  counties,  causing  much  injury  to 
growing  crops. 

A patent  was  granted  to  Lewis  C.  McCarty  and  Charles  W. 
Ford,  of  Bernie,  for  a cotton-harvester.  The  pickers  in  this 
machine  are  made  of  square  steel  rods,  having  upwardly  project- 
ing barbs,  and  are  so  placed  as  to  be  operated  vertically. 

1899. — Dunklin  county  had  the  highest  total  production, 
12,985  bales. 

There  were  in  operation  this  year,  according  to  the  Census, 
56  cotton  gins;  in  1900  there  were  66,  and  in  the  year  follow- 
ing, 68.  The  average  output  of  each  gin  for  each  season  was, 
respectively,  346,  424  and  453  bales.  The  average  cost  of 
ginning  and  baling  in  1899  was  $2.66  per  bale. 

Cotton  was  cultivated  this  year  by  4,691  farmers,  the  area 
planted  being  45,596  acres  and  the  yield  in  lint  cotton  12,865,944 
pounds,  or  an  average  of  282  pounds  per  acre.  The  counties 
having  the  largest  acreage  w^ere,  Dunklin,  Pemiscot.  Stoddard, 
New  Madrid  and  Ozark,  ranking  in  the  order  named. 


KING  COTTON 


273 


Commercial  Crops  and  Consumption  of  Cotton  in 
Missouri,  1900-1908 


Year 

Total 

Crop 

Domestic 

Consumption 

Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

1900-01 

Bales 

27,980 

Bales 

•1,261 

3 

15,794 

1901-02 

.30,837 

4„322 

3 

15,612 

1902-03 

49,552 

4,587 

2 

14,916 

1903-04 

.39,283 

4,635 

2 

15,018 

1904-05 

49,498 

4,205 

3 

14,696 

1905-06 

40,314 

4,926 

3 

14,896 

1906-07 

51,763 

5,865 

3 

14,896 

1907-OS 

34,105 

9,009 

4 

38,880 

1907. — According  to  the  Census  there  were  76  cotton  gins 
in  operation,  the  average  output  of  each  gin  being  449  bales. 

There  were  four  cotton  oil  mills  in  the  State  that  consumed 
18,574  tons  of  seed,  costing  $278,610.  The  value  of  the  products, 
including  linters,  was  $477,337. 


18 


CHAPTER  XIV 


Oklahoma,  and  its  Cotton  Crops  p'rom  1879  to  1908 — 

Historical  Data  Relating  to  Cotton  Production. 

The  lands  of  Indian  Territory  were  selected  by  the  United 
States  government  as  the  home  of  the  Indian  tribes  east  of  the 
the  Mississippi  river  in  1832,  and  the  Creek,  Choctaw,  Chicka- 
saw and  Cherokee  Indians  were  removed  thither  during  the 
period  1833-1838,  and  the  Seminoles  and  some  frag'ments  of 
other  tribes  a little  later. 

It  is  more  than  probable  that  some  of  these  tribes  began  the 
cultivation  of  cotton,  which  they  had  learned  in  Mississippi,^  not 
many  years  after  their  arrival  in  the  new  territory.  It  is  reason- 
ably certain,  however,  that  it  was  introduced  in  the  Choctaw 
nation  as  early  as  1850. 

The  following  historical  account  of  cotton  production  in  the 
Indian  Territory  is  taken  from  a report  prepared  for  the  Tenth 
Census  by  Dr.  R.  H.  Loughridge,  Special  Agent : 

“Cotton  as  a crop,  except  along  the  immediate  borders  of 
Texas  and  Arkansas,  has  been  comparatively  unknown  among 
the  Indians  until  within  the  last  few  years.  A few  attempts  had 
been  made  to  raise  small  patches  of  cotton  in  the  interior  of  the 
territory,  but  these  mostly  failed  because  of  ignorance  as  to  the 

proper  method  of  culture.  The  freeing  of  the  negro  slaves  of 

the  Indians,  the  building  of  the  Missouri,  Kansas  & Texas  rail- 
road, from  St.  Louis  through  the  heart  of  the  agricultural  region 
of  the  territory,  the  greater  influx  of  whites  among  the 

several  tribes,  and  a greater  tendency  towards  speaking  the 
English  language  on  the  part  of  the  Indians,  resulting  in  more 
general  relations  with  the  whites,  have  brought  about  an 

improved  and  greatly  enlarged  system  of  agriculture,  and  with 
this  the  introduction  of  cotton  as  a general  crop  in  a great  part 


1 See  Mississippi  Notes,  1806,  p.  164. 


274 


KING  COTTON 


275 


of  the  territory.  It  is  true  that  comparatively  little  cotton  is 
produced  by  the  real  or  ‘fullblood’  Indians,  who  are  still  chiefly 
dependent  upon  their  small  farms  of  corn  and  potatoes,  and  upon 
the  raising  of  stock,  but  the  more  wealthy  and  intelligent,  espe- 
cially on  the  south  and  east,  do  have  their  fields  of  cotton. 

“The  culture  of  cotton  is  said  to  have  been  introduced  among 
the  Indians  of  the  southern  part  of  the  Choctaw  nation  in  1850, 
and  it  has  been  kept  up  since  that  time  with  a gradually  increas- 
ing acreage..  It  finds  a ready  market  at  the  railroad  towns  in 
Texas  immediately  south  of  Red  river.  In  the  Chickasaw  nation 
its  culture  on  any  notable  scale  was  begun  about  1873,  and  is 
now  carried  on  chiefly  by  white  settlers.  One  farm  of  corn  and 
cotton  on  Red  river  is  said  to  contain  1,600  acres.  In  the 
Seminole  and  Pottawatomie  nations  cotton  was  first  planted  in 
1879,  and  its  culture  is  almost  altogether  confined  to  the  river 
and  creek  bottoms. 

“In  the  Creek  nation  the  lands  along  the  Canadian  river  are 
the  chief  cotton  lands.  Some  cotton  is  planted  along  the  Verdi- 
gris river,  and  a very  little  along  the  Arkansas  as  far  north  as 
the  thirty-sixth  parallel,  or  within  ten  miles  of  the  northern 
boundary-line  of  the  nation.  Its  culture  was  begun  only  within 
the  past  few  years,  and  is  now  carried  on  chiefly  by  negroes  and 
whites. 

“The  Cherokees  began  to  plant  cotton  in  1874  or  1875  from 
seed  that  was  distributed  among  them.  The  limit  of  its  culture 
is  on  Little  river,  about  10  miles  northeast  of  Tahlequah.  It  has 
been  grown  at  a distance  of  40  miles  from  that  town,  but  the 
planters  became  discouraged  because  of  its  running  to  weed  and 
failure  to  mature. 

“The  amount  of  cotton  raised  in  the  territory  in  1879  was 
estimated  at  17,000  bales,  from  25,000  acres.  This  is  simply  an 
estimate,  as  no  census  was  taken  among  the  Indians  in  1880. 
As  already  stated  the  greater  part  of  this  was  produced  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  territory,  comparatively  little  having  come 
from  the  interior.  The  following  statement  of  cotton  shipments 
between  July,  1879,  and  July,  1880,  has  been  furnished  by  the 
railroad  agents  at  the  several  stations  named,  and  will  give  an 


276 


OKLAHOMA 


idea  of  the  distribution  of  cotton  acreage  over  the  territory, 
except  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  Cherokee  nation  and  the 
southern  parts  of  the  Choctaw  and  Chickasaw  nations ; Musco- 
gee, on  the  Arkansas  river,  562  bales ; Eufaula,  on  the  Canadian 
river,  1,100  bales ; Stringtown,  south  of  the  Canadian  river, 
none ; Atoka,  900  bales ; Caddo,  554  bales.  These  two  latter 
places  are  in  the  southern  part  of  the  territory. 

“The  planters  of  the  Red  river  section  haul  their  cotton  to 
the  nearest  railroad  stations  in  Texas,  Caddo  receiving  only  that 
produced  in  more  contiguous  localities.  Eufaula  receives  nearly 
all  of  that  produced  among  the  Seminoles.  Gins  have  been 
erected  in  Muscogee  and  the  chief  town  southward,  and  one  is 
in  operation  in  the  Seminole  nation.” 

Beginning  with  1889,  when  the  Creek  and  Seminole  lands 
were  thrown  open  to  settlement,  and  which  was  followed  as 
rapidly  as  possible  by  the  opening  for  settlement  of  other  Indian 
lands,  there  was  the  most  remarkable  rush  to  the  new  territory 
ever  witnessed  in  this  or  any  other  country.  The  population 
increased  with  great  rapidity,  and  from  the  very  first  cotton 
culture  Avas  undertaken,  though  under  discouraging  circum- 
stances. Most  of  the  farmers  who  first  settled  the  territory  were 
from  sections  of  the  country  where  other  crops  than  cotton  were 
raised,  and  some  of  them  had  never  seen  it  grown. 

In  1891  the  Commercial  Club,  of  Guthrie,  purchased  several 
carloads  of  cotton  seed  in  Texas,  which  was  distributed  to  the 
farmers  free,  on  condition  that  they  would  agree  to  plant  it  and 
follow  certain  methods  of  cultivation.  A large  acreage  was  thus 
planted  in  Logan  county  in  the  spring  of  1891,  and  John  Parker 
this  season  built  the  first  cotton  gin  in  the  territory  at  Guthrie. 
The  crop,  however,  was  a failure,  the  farmers  became  discour- 
aged, and  it  is  said  that  interest  in  cotton  culture  was  not  revived 
until  A.  B.  McCabe,  a Kansas  negro  of  education  and  enterprise, 
came  into  the  territory  about  this  time,  founded  the  town  of 
Langston,  and  induced  a large  emigration  of  his  race  from  the 
Southern  States.  The  negroes  settled  on  the  poor,  cheap  black 
jack  lands  about  Langston,  but  they  succeeded  so  well  with  their 


KING  COTTON 


cotton  crops  that  their  white  neighbors  were  encouraged  to  try 
it  again.  By  1893  cotton  was  restored  to  confidence  and  was 
regarded  as  the  surest  crop  that  could  be  raised,  and  this  year 
was  the  first  time  the  staple  was  mentioned  in  the  Governor’s 
annual  report.  The  yield  was  good  and  the  quality  excellent,  an 
exhibition  made  at  the  World’s  Fair  in  Chicago  receiving  the 
highest  commendation  as  to  quality.^ 

From  1879  to  1889  the  cotton  crop  of  Indian  Territory 
increased  from  17,000  to  34,000  bales,  and  five  years  thereafter 
(1894)  to  105,000  bales.  In  1897  it  reached  207,000  bales,  and 
1902,  409,000.  The  largest  crop  was  that  of  1904,  when  477,000 
bales  were  produced.  The  crop  of  Oklahoma  was  425  bales  in 
1889',  and  five  years  later  it  increased  to  13,000  bales.  In  1897 
it  reached  110,000  bales  and  five  years  thereafter  increased  to 

218.000  bales.  In  1904  it  increased  to  346,000  and  in  1906  to 

488.000  bales,  which  was  the  largest  crop  ever  made.  In  1907 
the  acreage  in  cotton,  as  estimated  by  the  Department  of  Agricul- 
ture, increased  20  per  cent,  over  that  of  the  previous  year. 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  Indian  Territory  and 
Oklahom.v,  1879-1899 


Y^ear 

Indian  Territory 

Oklahoma 

Total 

Bales 

Bales 

Bales 

1S79-80 

17,000 

0 

17,000 

18S9-90 

34,115 

425 

34,540 

1894-9.5 

104,887  ■ 

13,001 

117,888 

189.5-96 

68,668 

14,103 

82,771 

1896-97 

S7.705 

35,251 

122,956 

1897-98 

207,386 

110,175 

317  561 

1898-99 

207.838 

109.026 

316  864 

1899-1900 

160,324 

84.035 

244,359 

1873. — Cotton  culture  in  the  Chickasaw  Nation  was  under- 
taken on  a large  scale. 

The  ]\Iissouri,  Kansas  & Texas  R.  R.  was  completed  to 
Denison,  Tex.,  January  1st. 

1880. — The  Chicago,  Rock  Island  & Pacific  R.  R.,  from 
Herington,  Kansas,  to  Terral,  Texas  (349  miles),  was  completed 
about  this  date ; the  branch  from  Chickasha  to  Mangum  was 
completed  in  1901. 


^ Texas  Farmers  Journal,  Nov.,  1900. 


278 


OKLAHOMA 


There  were  in  operation  in  Indian  Territory  this  year  only 
289  miles  of  railway,  and  none  in  Oklahoma  Territory. 

1881. — The  Gulf,  Colorado  & Santa  Fe  R.  R.,  from  Galves- 
ton to  Purcell,  Indian  Territory  (518  miles),  was  chartered  in 
1873  and  completed  this  year. 

1887. — The  Ft.  Scott,  Wichita  & Western  R.  R.,  now  ^ 
part  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  System,  from  Ft.  Scott,  Ark.,  to 
Kiowa,  Okla.  (245  miles),  was  completed  March  27th. 

The  extension  of  the  Southern  Kansas  R.  R.,  now  a part  of 
the  Atchison,  Topeka  & Santa  Fe  system,  from  Arkansas  City, 
Kan.,  to  Purcell,  Ind.  Ty.  (154  miles),  was  completed  and 
opened  June  12th,  and  the  Kiowa  branch  was  opened  to  the  west 
line  of  the  Indian  Territory,  September  12th.  The  Pan  Handle 
extension  was  completed  towards  the  close  of  1888. 

1889.  — The  Muscogee  or  Creek  and  Seminole  lands  were 
opened  to  settlement  April  22d. 

1890.  — About  this  time  Indian  Territory  began  to  assume 
importance  in  cotton  production. 

There  were  in  operation  this  year  in  Indian  Territory,  1,260J4 
miles  of  railway,  and  none  in  Oklahoma. 

1891.  — The  “Public  Land  Strip”  was  opened  to  settlement 
April  2d ; the  Sac  and  Fox  and  Iowa  lands,  and  the  Absentee, 
Shawnee  and  Pottawatomie  lands,  September  22d. 

1892.  — The  Cheyenne  and  Arapahoe  lands  were  opened  to 
settlement  April  19th. 

1893.  — The  Cherokee  Outlet,  and  the  Tonkawa  and  Pawnee 
lands  were  opened  to  settlement  September  16th. 

1894.  — The  crop  this  year  in  Indian  Territory  for  the  first 
time  exceeded  100,000  bales. 

1895.  — The  Kickapoo  lands  were  opened  to  settlement  May 
23d. 

There  were  in  operation  in  Oklahoma  this  year  431  and  in 
Indian  Territory  1,155  miles  of  railway. 

1896.  — The  Kansas  City  Southern  R.  R.  was  completed  to 
Sallisaw  January  31st,  and  to  Poteau,  Ind.  Ty.,  May  3d. 

The  average  cost  of  cotton  production  in  Indian  Territory 
this  year,  as  ascertained  by  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  was 


KING  COTTON 


279 


5.05  cents  per  pound.  This  was  the  lowest  average  cost  reported 
from  any  State  or  territory. 

1897.  — The  favorite  varieties  of  cotton  in  use  were,  Texas 
Storm  Proof,  Ounce  Boll,  and  Peterkin. 

The  crop  of  Oklahoma  for  the  first  time  exceeded  100,000 
bales. 

The  lands  in  Greer  county  were  opened  to  entry  on  June  24. 

1898.  — The  St.  Louis  & Oklahoma  City  R.  R.,  now  operated 
by  the  St.  Louis  & San  Francisco  R.  R.,  from  Sapulpa,  Ind. 
T.,  to  Oklahoma  City,  Okla.  (103  miles),  was  completed 
November  14th.  The  line  from  Ft.  Smith  to  Paris  was  opened 
July  1st. 

1899.  — There  were  25,322  farmers  engaged  in  the  cultivation 
of  cotton  during  this  year  in  Indian  Territory.  The  area  planted 
was  442,065  acres,  which  produced  77,864,522  pounds  of  lint,  or 
an  average  yield  of  176  pounds  to  the  acre.  The  Chickasaw, 
Choctaw,  Cherokee  and  Creek  nations,  ranking  in  the  order 
named,  reported  99.4  per  cent,  of  the  total  acreage. 

Pottowatomie  county  had  the  largest  total  production,  28,662 
bales  of  cotton. 

According  to  the  Census  there  were  in  operation  this  year  in 
Oklahoma  133  cotton  gins ; in  1900  there  were  137  and  the  year 
following,  155.  The  average  output  of  each  gin  each  season 
was,  respectively,  632,  853  and  962  bales.  The  average  cost  of 
ginning  and  baling  square  and  round  bales  in  1899  was,  respec- 
tively, $2.09  and  $1.52  per  bale. 

The  Choctaw,  Oklahoma  & Gulf  R.  R.,  from  Weatherford, 
Okla.,  to  Memphis,  Tenn.  (563  miles),  was  completed  from 
Weatherford  to  Howe,  Ind.  Ty.  (268  miles),  in  November,  1898, 
and  extended  from  Howe  to  the  Arkansas  State  line  during  this 
year. 

There  \vere  16,316  farmers  engaged  this  year  in  cultivating 
cotton  in  Oklahoma.  The  area  planted  was  240,678  acres,  and 
the  yield,  36,006,020  pounds  of  lint,  or  an  average  of  150  pounds 
to  the  acre.  The  counties  having  the  largest  area  were  Lincoln, 
Pottawatomie,  Cleveland  and  Greer,  ranking  in  the  order  named, 
and  reporting  a little  over  65  per  cent,  of  the  total  acreage.  Only 


280 


OKLAHOMA 


three  counties,  Canadian,  Cleveland  and  Greer,  planted  cotton  in 
1889  and  the  area  planted  was  1,109  acres. 

There  were  in  operation  this  year  in  Indian  Territory  297 
cotton  gins,  in  1900  there  were  301,  and  the  year  following,  323. 
According  to  the  Census  the  average  number  of  bales  ginned  by 
each  establishment  during  each  season  was,  respectively,  540  and 
957  and  880.  The  average  cost  for  ginning  and  baling  in  1899' 
was  $2.61  per  bale. 

The  Census  returns  for  Chickasaw  Nation  showed  the  highest 
total  production  among  the  tribal  divisions  of  Indian  Territory, 
viz. : 79,696  bales. 


Commercial  Cotton  Crops  of  Indian  Territory  and 
Oklaho.ma,  1900-1908 


Year 

Indian  Territory 

Oklahoma 

Total 

Bales 

Bales 

Bales 

1900-01 

288,114 

116,875 

404,989 

1901-02 

284,170 

149,064 

433,2.34 

1902-0.3 

409,591 

218,390 

627,981 

190-3-04 

312,776 

204,957 

517,733 

1904-05 

477,223 

345,806 

823,029 

1905-06 

349,668 

3.36,514 

686,182 

1906-07 

403,235 

4.88  453 

891,688 

1907-08 

848,977 

848,977 

1900. — There  were  in  operation  this  year  in  Oklahoma  912, 
and  in  Indian  Territory,  1,488  miles  of  railway. 

Six  cotton  oil  mills  that  consumed  26,415  tons  of  seed,  valued 
at  $297,939,  were  in  operation  in  Indian  Territory  this  year.  Of 
the  seed  produced,  36.8  per  cent,  was  manufactured  into  oil 
products  A^alued  at  $466,078. 

A patent  was  granted  to  Ludwik  Bilan,  of  Lexington,  for  a 
cotton  picking  device  provided  with  one  or  more  suction-fans  and 
hollow  rotary  spindles,  the  spindles  being  perforated  and  so 
adapted  as  to  gather  the  cotton  by  atmospheric  pressure. 

There  were  in  operation  in  Oklahoma  this  year  six  cotton  oil 
mills  that  consumed  26,425  tons  of  seed  valued  at  $247,520.  Of 
the  seed  produced  73.4  per  cent,  was  manufactured  into  oil 
products  valued  at  $410,078. 

J.  L.  Eldridge,  of  Woodville  (Ind.  T.),  and  his  family  of 
eight  children,  picked  this  season  100  bales,  or  about  1,500,000 


TRAIN  OF  FLAT  CARS  LOAUFF)  VVITN  COTTON. 
Photo  by  Powen  Art  Gallery. 


KING  COTTON 


281 


pounds  of  seed  cotton,  for  which  he  received  $1,200  cash,  the  rate 
per  100  pounds  paid  ranging  from  50  to  80  cents.  Two  of  his 
boys  averaged  1,100  pounds  per  day,  the  minimum  being  425 
pounds  per  day. 

1901.- — Certain  lands  formerly  belonging  to  the  Kiowa, 
Comanche,  Apache,  and  Wichita  Indian  tribes,  were  opened  for 
entry  and  settlement  August  6.  The  territory  embracing  these 
lands  was  also  subdivided  into  counties. 

J.  A.  Overstreet,  of  Norman,  obtained  a patent  for  a cotton 
cleaning  machine  that  was  said  to  make  a great  improvement  in 
the  grade  of  cotton. 

1904. — The  State  Capital,  published  at  Oklahoma  City,  stated 
that  cotton  growers  in  the  neighborhood  of  Caddo  carried 
thousands  of  pounds  of  cotton  bolls  to  that  town  “to  be  threshed.” 
The  buyers  paid  $1.50  a hundred  for  it,  and  $1.00  a bale  was 
charged  for  threshing  and  ginning. 

1906.  — The  IMexican  boll-weevil  crossed  the  Red  river,  infect- 
ing the  cotton  fields  in  the  southern  section  of  Indian  Territory. 

The  Farmers’  Union,  of  Roger  Mills  county,  passed  a resolu- 
tion that  the  Union  “go  on  record  as  opposed  to  negroes  being 
brought  among  us  to  pick  cotton,  or  for  any  other  purpose 
whatever.” 

The  first  cotton  mill  built  in  the  State  began  operations  this 
year  at  Guthrie  with  2,856  spindles,  and  consumed  706  bales  of 
cotton. 

The  pasture  and  wood  reserve  lands  in  the  Kiowa,  Comanche 
and  Apache  Indian  reservations,  situated  in  Kiowa,  Caddo  and 
Comanche  counties,  and  embracing  480,000  acres,  were  offered 
for  sale  to  the  highest  bidder.  The  bids  were  opened  and 
announced,  beginning  with  December  17. 

1907.  — Oklahoma  was  admitted  into  the  Union  November  16. 

According  to  the  Census  there  were  971  cotton  gins  in  opera-  - 

tion,  the  average  output  of  each  gin  being  897  bales. 

There  were  37  cotton  oil  mills  in  the  State  that  consumed 
196,653  tons  of  seed  costing  $3,413,896.  The  value  of  the  prod- 
iicts,  including  linters,  was  $4,967,003. 


BIBLIOGRAPHY  OF  COTTON 


The  following  is  a list  of  publications  relating  to  the  cotton 
industry  which  have  been  used  in  the  preparation  of  this  work : 

History,  Biography  and  Travels. 

Alabama — Pickett’s  History  of ; Brewer’s  History  of ; 
Hodgson’s  History  of. 

Arkansas — Hempstead’s-  History  of ; Nutall’s,  A Journal  of 
Travels  in  (1819). 

Florida — Capt.  Roman’s  History  of ; Stork's  Description  of 
East  Florida  (1765)  ; Robert’s  Account  of  the  Discovery 
and  Natural  History  of  (1763)  ; Vignole’s  Observations 
Upon  the  Floridas. 

Georgia — A State  of  the  Province  of  Georgia  (1740)  ; Mc- 
Call’s History  of ; Records  of  Historical  Society  of ; 
Georgia,  Historical  and  Industrial. 

Louisiana — Capt.  Bossu’s  Travels  Through  the  Province  of 
North  America  Called  Louisiana  (1762)  ; Stoddard’s  His- 
tory of : French’s  Historical  Collections  of  Louisiana  and 
Florida ; Gayerre’s  History  of ; Louisiana  Historical  Col- 
lections. 

Mississippi — Claiborne’s  Mississippi  As  a Province,  Territory 
and  State;  Flint’s  Recollections  of  (1826)  ; Monette’s  His- 
tory of  the  Valley  of ; Waile’s  Agriculture  and  Geology  of ; 
Duval’s  Historv  of ; Davis’s  Mississippi  and  Mississip- 
pians ; Biographical  and  Flistorical  Memoirs  of  (1840); 
Toulmin’s  Digest  of. 

North  Carolina — Lawson’s  History  of;  Williams’  History  of; 
Hawk’s  Flistory  of : Martin’s  History  of ; Cameron’s  Hand 
Book  of. 


282 


KING  COTTON 


283 


History,  Biography  and  Travels — Continued. 

South  Carolina — Description  of  the  Province  of  (1731)  ; 
Carroll’s  Historical  Sketches  of ; Rivers’  Sketches  of ; 
Drayton’s  A View  of  (1802)  ; Ramsay’s  History  of;  Mill’s 
Statistics  of. 

Tennessee — Haywood’s  History  of;  Ramsay’s  Annals  of; 
Phelan’s  Plistory  of ; Killebrew’s  Geology  of. 

Texas — Thrall’s  History  of;  Morphis’  History  of;  Ken- 
nedy’s History  of ; DeCordova’s  Resources  and  Public 
Men  of ; Smythe’s  History  of  Parker  County ; Granger’s 
Southern  and  Western  Guide;  Olmstead’s,  A Texas 
Journey. 

Virginia — Capt.  John  Smith’s  Works;  Beverly’s  History  of; 
Burke’s  History  of;  Jefferson’s  Notes  on  the  State  of 
(1781)  ; Bruce’s  Economic  History  of. 

Narrative  of  Alvaz  Nunez  Cabaca  de  Vaca,  Translated  by 
Buckingham  Smith;  Attractions  of  North  America 
(1600)  ; Nova  Britannica  ( 1609)  ; Brief  Description  of  the 
Province  of  Carolina  (1666)  ; Oldmixon’s  British  Empire 
in  America;  Charlevoix’s  History  and  Description  of  New 
France  (1722)  ; Capt  Byrd’s  Westover  Manuscripts  (1728- 
36)  ; Bartram’s  Travels  in  North  America  (1773)  ; John 
Bartram’s  Journal  While  on  a Journey  in  Florida  (1777)  ; 
Universal  History,  London  Edition  (1766)  ; Belknap 
Papers,  Mass.  Historical  Collection ; Bancroft’s  History  of 
the  United  States ; McMaster’s  History  of  the  People  of 
the  United  States ; Donnell’s  History  of  Cotton ; Bishop’s 
History  of  American  iManufactures : White’s  History  of 
Cotton  Manufacture ; Ure’s  Cotton  Manufacture  of  Great 
Britain ; Holmes’s  Annals  of  the  L^nited  States ; Meek’s 
Southwestern  History:  Barton’s  Life  of  Andrew  Jackson; 
Olmsted’s  Journey  Through  the  Seaboard  States  ; Schwab’s 
Confederate  States  of  America ; Keating’s  History  of 
Memphis. 

Miscellaneous  Books  and  Pamphlets. 

Field’s  Cultivation  and  Preparation  of  Cotton  for  Market 
(1823)  ; Seabrook’s  Origin,  Cultivation  and  Uses  of  Cot- 


284 


BIBLIOGRAPHY  OF  COTTON 


^Miscellaneous  Books  and  Pamphlets — Continued. 

ton  (1843)  ; Christy’s  Cotton  is  King  (1855)  ; Steadman’s 
Cotton  and  Woolen  Factories  in  the  South;  Fisher’s 
Report  on  Cotton  and  Woolen  Manufactures  (1827)  ; 
Turner’s  Cotton  Planters’  Manual,  and  Cotton  and  the 
Cotton  Gin;  Peter  Force’s  National  Calendar  (1820); 
Lyman’s  Cotton  Culture ; Atkinson’s  Cheap  Cotton  by 
Free  Labor,  and  Cotton  Culture  in  the  South ; Records  of 
Arkansas  Immigration  Aid  Society  ; Records  of  War  of  the 
Rebellion;  U.  S.  Treasury  Department  Circular  (1845); 
Introduction  and  Early  Progress  of  Cotton  Manufacture 
in  the  United  States ; Hammond’s  The  Cotton  Industry ; 
Cloud’s  Cotton  Culture  in  1866 ; Brook’s  Cotton,  Its  Uses, 
etc.;  Otken’s  Ills  of  the  South;  Zacharie’s  New  Orleans 
Guide;  Ellison’s  The  Trade  of  Great  Britain;  Olmstead’s 
Seaboard  Slave  States,  A Journey  in  the  Black  Country, 
and  The  Cotton  Kingdom  ; Dead  Towns  of  Georgia  ; Ingle’s 
Southern  Side  Lights ; Tompkins’s  Cotton  and  Cotton  Oil. 

Statistical,  Commercial  and  Political. 

American  State  Papers  (1790-1825)  ; Tables  and  Notes  on 
the  Cultivation,  Manufacture  and  Foreign  Trade  of  Cot- 
ton, Levi  Woodbury  (1836)  ; Hazard’s  Commercial  and 
Statistical  Register  (1840-45)  ; Pitkin’s  Commerce  of  the 
United  States  (1817)  ; De  Bow’s  Resources  of  the  South 
and  Southwestern  States,  and  Analysis  of  the  Census 
(1850);  Macgregor’s  Commercial  Statistics;  Tucker’s 
Progress  of  Population  and  Wealth  of  the  United  States; 
Dana’s  Cotton  from  Seed  to  Loom;  B.  F.  Nurse  (Com- 
missioner to  Paris  Exposition)  Report  on  Cotton  by;  Cot- 
ton Movement  and  Fluctuation,  Latham,  Alexander  & Co. 
(1868-1907)  ; Shepperson’s  Cotton  Facts  (1868-1907)  ; 
Poor’s  IManual  of  Railroads  (1867-1907). 

Reports  and  Public  Proceedings. 

Reports  of  Commissioner  of  Patents  (1793-1902)  ; U.  S. 
Census  (1800-1900)  ; Secretary  of  the  Interior;  Commis- 


KING  COTTON 


285 


Reports  and  Public  Proceedings — Continued. 

sioner  of  Indian  Affairs ; Commissioner  of  General  Land 
Office ; Commissioner  of  Internal  Revenue ; Senate  Com- 
mittee on  Agriculture,  53d  Congress;  New  York  Cotton 
Exchange;  New  Orleans  Cotton  Exchange;  Savannah 
Cotton  Exchange ; Memphis  Cotton  Exchange ; Secretary 
of  the  Treasury  of  the  Republic  of  Texas  (1843)  : Atlanta 
Cotton  Exposition;  North  Carolina  Bureau  of  Labor; 
Georgia  Commissioner  of  Agriculture;  Louisiana  Commis- 
sioner of  Agriculture;  Texas  Commissioner  of  Agriculture; 
Cotton  Manufacturer's  Association;  Directors  of  Experi- 
ment Stations  in  Alabama,  Arkansas,  Elorida,  Georgia, 
Louisiana,  Mississippi,  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina, 
Tennessee  and  Texas;  Proceedings  of  Cotton  Planters’ 
Convention  held  at  Macon,  1839 ; Montgomery,  1845 ; 
Macon,  1851;  Memphis,  1852;  New  Orleans,  1855;  Savan- 
nah, 1856 ; Planters’  and  Manufacturers’  Association,  1868- 
69 ; Augusta,  1892;  Little  Rock,  1893;  New  Orleans,  1905- 
06 ; Augusta  Cotton  Exchange,  1896 ; Cotton  Exchange 
Convention,  Augusta,  1874;  Interior  Compress  Associa- 
tion, Augusta,  1898;  National  Cotton  Exchange,  1874; 
Convention  of  Cotton  Exchanges,  New  Orleans,  1889; 
American  Cotton  Growers’  Protective  Association,  1898- 
1902 ; Southern  Cotton  Association ; Department  of  Agri- 
culture (1867-1907). 

Addresses  and  Memorials. 

Address  by  Dr.  Daniell  of  Georgia  to  Cotton  Planters,  1852  ; 
by  Dr.  Joseph  Jones  at  Cotton  Planters’  Convention 
(1860)  ; by  Dr.  Phares  to  Woodville,  La.,  Farmers’  Club 
(1869);  Public  Speeches  of  Howell  Cobb;  Memorial  to 
Count  de  Ponchatrain  (1697)  ; Memorial  of  New  Orleans 
Merchants  to  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  (1866). 

Trade  Journals,  Periodicals  and  Magazines. 

New  York  Shipping  and  Commercial  List  (1795-1898)  ; 
New  York  Commercial  and  Financial  Chronicle  (1870- 
1907)  ; American  Annual  Register  (1825-33)  ; Western 


2S6 


BIBLIOGRAPHY  OF  COTTON 


Trade  Journals,  Periodicals  and  Magazines — Continued. 

Monthly  Review  (1828)  ; New  York  Journal  of  Commerce 
(1832-33)  ; Whig  Almanac  and  Political  Register 
(1838-68)  ; Hunts  Merchant’s  Magazine  (1839-70)  ; Mer- 
chants’ and  Planters’  Price  Current  (1845)  ; Circulars  of 
Tolcott  & Bro.,  N.  Y.  (1852)  ; Cotton  Circular  of  W.  P. 
Wright,  N.  Y.  (1855);  American  Almanac;  Textile 
World ; American  Quarterly  Review ; Historical  Magazine ; 
Magazine  of  American  History ; Leisure  Hours ; Railroad 
Record  (1862)  ; Harper’s  Magazine  (1881)  ; Southern 
Bivouac  (1885)  ; Century  Magazine  (1887)  ; Chattanooga 
Tradesman  (1894)  ; Cotton  and  Cotton  Oil  News 
(1905-08). 

Agricultural  Journals. 

American  Farmer  (1820-28)  ; Southern  Agriculturist  (1827- 
28)  ; American  Agriculturist  (1828)  ; Farmers’  Register 
(1833)  ; Southern  Planter  (1834-47)  ; Southern  Cultivator 
(1849-69)  ; Alabama  Planter  (1847)  ; Skinner’s  Journal 
of  Agriculture  (1846-48)  ; Soil  of  the  South  (1855). 

Newspapers. 

In  Alabama — Huntsville  Republican  (1821)  ; Mobile  Regis- 
ter (1822)  ; Huntsville  Southern  Advocate  (1828-44)  ; 
Florence  Gazette  (1835)  ; Tuscaloosa  Monitor  (1838)  ; 
Mobile  Chronicle  (1840)  ; Mobile  Journal  (1841)  ; Ala- 
bama Times  (1844)  ; Eutaw  Whig  (1851)  ; Mobile 
Advertiser  and  Register  (1865). 

In  Arkansas — Arkansas  Gazette  (1820)  ; Little  Rock  Gazette 
(1858). 

In  District  of  Columbia — Washington  Gazette  (1821)  ; 
National  Intelligencer  (1834-40)  ; Washington  Republic 
(1861). 

In  Florida — Pensacola  Gazette  (1828-46)  ; Apalachicola 
Gazette  (1840). 

In  Georgia — Savannah  Republican  (1808-45)  ; Georgia 
Journal  (1825-28)  ; Georgia  Courier  (1828)j  Savannah 


KING  COTTON 


287 


Newspapers — Continued. 

Georgian  (1828-46)  ; Augusta  Chronicle  (1831)  ; Macon 
Messenger  (1843). 

In  Louisiana — Louisiana  Gazette,  N.  O.  (1806)  ; Louisiana 
Advertiser,  N.  O.  (1821-35)  ; New  Orleans  Bulletin 
(1827-40)  ; New  Orleans  Price  Current  (1836-70)  ; New 
Orleans  Standard  (1836)  ; Alexandria  Gazette  (1839)  ; 
New  Orleans  True  American  (1840)  ; New  Orleans  Bee 
(1844)  ; Concordia  Intelligencer  (1844)  ; New  Orleans 
Picayune  (1845)  ; New  Orleans  Topic  (1845)  ; New 
Orleans  Republic  (1845)  ; New  Orleans  Crescent  (1851)  ; 
New  Orleans  Delta  (1854). 

In  Maryland — Niles’  Register  (1811-46)  ; Baltimore  Ameri- 
can (1840). 

In  Mississippi — Natchez  Ariel  (1827)  ; Natchez  Journal 
(1833)  ; Vicksburg  Register  (1836)  ; Natchez  Courier 
(1837)  ; Raymond  Times  (1838)  ; Natchez  Free  Trader 
(1839). 

In  New  York — Buffalo  Journal  (1840)  ; New  York  Courier 
(1843)  ; New  York  American  (1843)  ; New  York  Express 
(1844). 

In  North  Carolina — ^Catawba  Journal  (1825)  ; Fayetteville 
Observer  (1839-43)  ; Salem  Chronicle  (1837)  ; North 
Carolinian  (1840). 

In  South  Carolina — Charleston  Courier  (1803-53)  ; Charles- 
ton Patriot  (1819-27)  ; Columbia  Telescope  (1829)  ; 
Charleston  Mercury  (1845)  ; Columbia  Telegraph  (1848)  ; 
Charleston  News  and  Courier  (1882-84). 

In  Tennessee — Nashville  Banner  (1833)  ; Memphis  Gazette 
(1838)  ; Memphis  Bulletin  (1860)  ; Memphis  Argus 
(1864). 

In  Texas — Galveston  News  (1896-1901)  ; Houston  Post 
(1888-1902). 

In  Virginia — Norfolk  Beacon  (1815)  ; Richmond  Compiler 
(1824)  ; Petersburg  Intelligencer  (1826-35)  ; Southern 
Banner  (1840). 


Tables  of  Statistics 


o 


288 


KING  COTTON 


289 


TABLE  3 

MONTHLY  CONDITION  REPORTS  OF  THE 
DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE 


(Official  Figures) 


*5 

> 

N.  Carolina 

S.  Carolina 

1 

'Sr 

(- 

c 

o 

O 

Florida 

Alabama 

'a 

.Sr 

s 

Louisiana 

Texas 

Arkansas 

Tennessee 

Missouri 

Oklahoma 

Indian  Ter. 

Ayerage 

1866 

June 

July 

Aug. 

120 

82 

51 

"57 

55 

50 

"53 

71 

93 

80 

9.5 

97 

Sept. 

Oct. 

90 

83 

38 

40 

65 

41 

40 

60 

64 

60 

84 

91 

52 

1867 

June 

July 

"to 

"86 

fro 

115 

'87 

152 

111 

102 

90 

70 

100 

90 

Aug. 

70 

85 

117 

145 

97 

150 

1.30 

80 

80 

90 

no 

104 

Sept. 

86 

101 

150 

153 

100 

142 

124 

74 

65 

118 

109 

101 

Oct. 

50 

95 

142 

150 

84 

120 

105 

53 

70 

100 

102 

105 

109 

1868 

June 

July 

95 

104 

"94 

”94 

1^ 

97 

127 

133 

102 

121 

93 

100 

Aug. 

91 

105 

96 

92 

82 

103 

120 

1.39 

140 

135 

104 

90 

Sept. 

50 

102 

95 

80 

40 

78 

91 

77 

120 

no 

98 

97 

Oct. 

73 

91 

SO 

75 

50 

82 

90 

9.8 

107 

100 

82 

88 

87 

1869 

June 

July 

87 

72 

103 

106 

90 

"89 

90 

94 

"89 

'si 

95 

'90 

Aug. 

90 

93 

73 

101 

105 

98 

107 

111 

108 

105 

95 

92 

101 

Sept. 

88 

77 

80 

80 

94 

110 

120 

114 

98 

79 

96 

98 

Oct. 

82 

/o 

71 

78 

79 

90 

94 

85 

86 

87 

72 

87 

84 

1870 

June 

July 

94 

96 

101 

98 

102 

95 

101 

97 

loi 

85 

90 

9.8 

Aug. 

104 

104 

101 

100 

110 

102 

95 

100 

97 

no 

90 

84 

100 

Sept. 

95 

105 

105 

105 

115 

100 

100 

108 

109 

no 

100 

95 

106 

Oct. 

75 

107 

104 

99 

102 

96 

99 

92 

105 

105 

97 

105 

90 

1871 

June 

100 

90 

92 

82 

103 

83 

84 

90 

9.3 

.8.3 

90 

87 

Julv 

95 

99 

100 

82 

88 

81 

80 

75 

93 

90 

98 

95 

86 

Aug. 

98 

94 

96 

80 

83 

81 

80 

83 

84 

98 

100 

102 

85 

Sept. 

97 

S2 

80 

78 

75 

80 

80 

/ / 

80 

95 

96 

93 

82.3 

Oct. 

80 

(O 

72 

73 

75 

76 

73 

70 

82 

94 

94 

76.7 

1872 

June 

95 

96 

92 

96 

95 

105 

100 

104 

100 

98 

101 

97 

100 

July 

96 

94 

97 

101 

102 

106 

109 

103 

105 

95 

104 

95 

103 

Aug. 

101 

99 

98 

104 

96 

107 

112 

101 

103 

96 

104 

102 

104 

Sept. 

97 

101 

95 

96 

92 

88 

90 

86 

94 

78 

92 

105 

91.2 

Oct. 

85 

90 

86 

88 

75 

82 

78 

72 

85 

75 

90 

93 

81.8 

1873 

June 

93 

85 

88 

94 

102 

93 

92 

94 

86 

92 

90 

96 

91 

.July 

108 

91 

82 

94 

99 

85 

83 

80 

78 

106 

96 

102 

87 

Aug. 

108 

95 

87 

95 

103 

91 

88 

86 

83 

93 

95 

86 

90 

Sept. 

98 

95 

86 

■ 90 

85 

85 

82 

80 

92 

93 

92 

96 

88 

Oct. 

90 

88 

80 

82 

76 

78 

75 

65 

80 

83 

90 

90 

79.3 

19 


290 


TABLES  OF  STATISTICS 


Monthly  Condition  Reports  of  the  Department  of 
Agriculture — Cont. 


(Official  Figures) 


Virginia 

N.  Carolina 

1 

S.  Carolina 

Georgia 

Florida 

Alabama 

Mississippi 

Louisiana 

^ Texas 

Arkansas 

Tennessee 

Missouri 

Oklahoma 

Indian  Ter. 

Average 

1874 

June 

90 

89 

81 

80 

90 

82 

78 

70 

90 

90 

85 

82 

July 

100 

102 

88 

91 

96 

92 

87 

73 

102 

94 

97 

100 

91 

Aug. 

98 

95 

97 

94 

102 

90 

89 

83 

105 

87 

83 

80 

92 

Sept. 

99 

87 

86 

77 

77 

81 

74 

62 

65 

47 

52 

76 

70.4 

Oct. 

90 

83 

80 

80 

81 

75 

74 

62 

70 

55 

56 

76 

71.7 

1875 

June 

94 

92 

97 

91 

94 

101 

100 

95 

96 

90 

99 

95 

96 

July 

96 

95 

99 

97 

101 

102 

103 

105 

93 

104 

109 

108 

100 

Aug. 

97 

99 

84 

86 

85 

93 

104 

99 

93 

108 

107 

103 

96 

Sept. 

100 

90 

80 

76 

75 

87 

98 

88 

94 

99 

96 

103 

88.3 

Oct. 

100 

85 

/ / 

71 

70 

94 

96 

90 

88 

103 

90 

99 

88 

1876 

June 

99 

101 

98 

103 

82 

94 

92 

89 

90 

95 

93 

88 

94.4 

jLily 

101 

105 

90 

103 

98 

100 

94 

89 

99 

97 

103 

97 

Aug. 

99 

96 

97 

104 

89 

103 

92 

89 

106 

98 

120 

86 

99 

Sept. 

106 

93 

91 

90 

83 

83 

87 

90 

87 

97 

119 

84 

92.3 

Oct. 

97 

84 

80 

88 

80 

69 

83 

82 

91 

86 

71 

93 

S2.7 

1877 

June 

88 

80 

91 

101 

92 

90 

91 

98 

91 

94 

94 

92 

93 

July 

96 

88 

87 

90 

95 

94 

93 

102 

94 

94 

96 

92 

93 

Aug. 

96 

88 

8.8 

85 

93 

94 

90 

106 

96 

93 

90 

92 

93 

Sept. 

86 

83 

84 

i 

94 

91 

88 

92 

70 

99 

100 

97 

86 

Oct. 

85 

79 

V 

88 

88 

80 

' ' 

64 

98 

100 

82 

1878 

99 

June 

88 

87 

99 

101 

98 

100 

98 

98 

104 

98 

97 

93 

July 

78 

81 

104 

105 

100 

102 

98 

95 

106 

91 

98 

90 

99 

Aug. 

84 

82 

97 

92 

99 

98 

92 

90 

108 

98 

92 

95 

Sept. 

83 

86 

80 

81 

91 

92 

89 

83 

101 

98 

91 

99 

90 

Oct. 

84 

83 

87 

84 

91 

86 

83 

103 

90 

102 

90 

1879 

96 

June 

98 

94 

93 

95 

96 

99 

95 

94 

100 

94 

July 

101 

104 

81 

86 

91 

96 

92 

93 

90 

103 

101 

104 

93 

Aug. 

97 

86 

82 

87 

87 

100 

98 

89 

79 

96 

105 

91 

Sept. 

84 

83 

81 

82 

85 

84 

89 

87 

66 

99 

107 

85 

Oct. 

77 

82 

77 

80 

79 

85 

80 

65 

96 

106 

81 

1880 

99 

June 

87 

92 

■ 104 

98 

90 

96 

96 

97 

106 

100 

99 

July 

85 

101 

99 

97 

92 

93 

99 

96 

111 

104 

103 

100 

Aug. 

104 

106 

98 

98 

96 

99 

99 

99 

110 

106 

107 

102 

Sept. 

102 

100 

93 

95 

91 

86 

88 

88 

97 

95 

90 

91 

Oct. 

93 

87 

88 

88 

85 

75 

70 

88 

85 

87 

84 

1881 

93 

June 

96 

88 

92 

100 

100 

94 

90 

89 

90 

93 

July 

82 

94 

93 

98 

99 

102 

94 

96 

89 

92 

105 

95 

Aug. 

93 

89 

81 

92 

100 

05 

89 

87 

79 

85 

98 

88 

Sept. 

72 

72 

68 

71 

87 

80 

74 

76 

65 

55 

- 62 

72 

Oct. 

69 

63 

73 

82 

/ o 

68 

75 

60 

50 

58 

66 

KING  COTTON 


291 


Monthly  Condition  Reports  of  the  Department  of 
Agriculture — Cont. 


(Official  Figures) 


Virginia 

N.  Carolina 

S.  Carolina 

0 

0 

Florida 

Alabama 

Mississippi 

Louisiana 

Texas 

Arkansas 

Tennessee 

Missouri 

Oklahoma 

Indian  Ter. 

Average 

1882 

June 

70 

82 

92 

89 

97 

95 

88 

90 

93 

85 

80 

89 

July 

60 

90 

98 

92 

92 

93 

87 

96 

97 

90 

78 

92 

Aug. 

84 

84 

98 

93 

S7 

99 

91 

93 

100 

96 

86 

78 

94 

SeDt. 

90 

88 

95 

89 

83 

90 

86 

89 

101 

100 

89 

92 

Oct. 

87 

85 

S9 

86 

82 

88 

82 

82 

100 

96 

84 

76 

88 

1883 

June 

81 

81 

85 

86 

94 

87 

86 

91 

89 

87 

78 

86 

julv 

83 

91 

91 

93 

95 

87 

89 

91 

93 

84 

88 

77 

90 

Aug. 

87 

87 

80 

78 

93 

83 

85 

85 

89 

S3 

90 

77 

84 

Sept. 

79 

78 

70 

70 

93 

76 

t 0 

7 1 

67 

80 

89 

74 

Oct. 

67 

69 

67 

66 

82 

67 

67 

68 

65 

71 

/o 

76 

68 

1884 

June 

90 

95 

97 

96 

99 

93 

87 

72 

77 

85 

92 

90 

87 

Julv 

87 

87 

93 

90 

101 

93 

83 

74 

80 

86 

89 

92 

86 

Aug. 

88 

87 

91 

90 

97 

90 

89 

85 

79 

87 

92 

90 

87 

Sept. 

89 

90 

87 

86 

88 

84 

83 

84 

72 

S3 

90 

84 

82.5 

Oct. 

81 

79 

80 

79 

84 

74 

76 

" 

62 

76 

85 

74.7 

1885 

June 

98 

93 

96 

95 

93 

92 

92 

95 

90 

91 

85 

92 

Julv 

98 

93 

96 

97 

95 

92 

99 

100 

92 

96 

97 

90 

96 

Aug. 

95 

92 

96 

100 

99 

95 

101 

100 

91 

97 

96 

97 

96.5 

Sept. 

88 

86 

88 

91 

90 

88 

89 

90 

82 

83 

87 

87 

Oct. 

78 

/ / 

79 

87 

88 

81 

80 

77 

78 

70 

74 

78 

1886 

June 

95 

97 

83 

82 

97 

87 

88 

So 

96 

83 

99 

98 

88.7 

Julv 

92 

91 

76 

81 

99 

80 

79 

84 

97 

92 

98 

90 

86.1 

Aug. 

75 

74 

67 

80 

86 

77 

79 

75 

88 

96 

95 

85 

81.3 

Sept. 

77 

82 

81 

81 

83 

80 

82 

81 

76 

93 

95 

80 

82.1 

Oct. 

72 

iO 

74 

81 

85 

80 

79 

79 

74 

86 

96 

SO 

79.3 

1887 

Tune 

99 

99 

98 

99 

98 

99 

99 

97 

91 

98 

97 

97 

96.9 

Julv 

98 

99 

97 

96 

98 

98 

99 

98 

93 

99 

98 

96.9 

Aug. 

94 

96 

95 

94 

96 

93 

96 

94 

87 

97 

95 

95 

93.3 

Sept. 

88 

89 

89 

84 

88 

81 

84 

86 

/ / 

83 

78 

87 

82.8 

Oct. 

79 

78 

79 

/ / 

79 

76 

i i 

78 

To 

/o 

74 

76.5 

1888 

June 

84 

86 

88 

92 

94 

92 

90 

88 

80 

94 

92 

90 

88.2 

July 

81 

85 

86 

90 

90 

92 

92 

91 

76 

90 

90 

86.7 

Aug. 

84 

82 

84 

90 

92 

90 

92 

90 

79 

93 

93 

92 

87.3 

Sept. 

84 

84 

83 

85 

90 

87 

86 

79 

78 

87 

95 

83.8 

Oct. 

80 

81 

iO 

79 

88 

82 

81 

70 

1 0 

82 

91 

91 

78.9 

1889 

June 

85 

84 

78 

80 

88 

83 

85 

90 

95 

92 

79 

86.4 

July 

83 

8.5 

84 

86 

90 

87 

91 

92 

90 

83 

82 

87.6 

Aug. 

63 

80 

90 

91 

95 

90 

88 

92 

91 

93 

78 

89.3 

Sept. 

62 

79 

87 

90 

94 

91 

88 

91 

81 

90 

84 

86.6 

Oct. 

58 

72 

81 

87 

88 

87 

80 

83 

78 

83 

82 

80 

81.5 

292 


TABLES  OF  STATISTICS 


Monthly  Condition  Reports  of  the  Department  of 
Agriculture — Cont. 

(Official  Figures) 


Virginia 

1 

N.  Carolina 

S.  Carolina 

Georgia 

Florida 

Alabama 

Mississippi 

Louisiana 

Texas 

Arkansas 

Tennessee 

Missouri 

Oklahoma 

Indian  Ter. 

Average 

1890 

June 

90 

98 

97 

94 

92 

93 

85 

84 

84 

85 

87 

88.8 

July 

92 

95 

95 

95 

91 

95 

89 

86 

89 

89 

93 

91.4 

Aug. 

93 

96 

95 

94 

90 

93 

90 

89 

82 

85 

93 

89.5 

Sept. 

93 

95 

87 

86 

90 

84 

87 

93 

77 

89 

94 

85.5 

Oct. 

92 

91 

83 

82 

81 

80 

75 

83 

i / 

80 

83 

80.0 

1891 

Tune 

78 

75 

80 

80 

90 

89 

88 

88 

91 

89 

73 

85.7 

July 

82 

77 

80 

85 

94 

87 

91 

90 

95 

93 

82 

92 

88.6 

Auff. 

81 

75 

83 

86 

94 

89 

93 

90 

92 

95 

82 

94 

88.9 

Sept. 

78 

79 

81 

82 

88 

83 

83 

85 

82 

86 

84 

82.7 

Oct. 

72 

70 

72 

78 

74 

76 

74 

79 

78 

76 

70 

75.7 

1892 

June 

79 

88 

91 

87 

89 

91 

91 

82 

81 

To 

90 

85.9 

July 

85 

91 

94 

88 

86 

90 

85 

84 

87 

77 

87 

86.9 

Au.?. 

83 

82 

83 

84 

81 

83 

80 

83 

* 86 

75 

79 

78 

82.3 

Sept. 

75 

76 

77 

79 

66 

72 

72 

76 

81 

79 

79 

76 

76.8 

Oct. 

71 

69 

73 

75 

63 

69 

72 

71 

77 

74 

75 

73.3 

1893 

Tune 

95 

83 

88 

87 

98 

82 

86 

87 

82 

89 

92 

85.6 

July 

93 

81 

83 

86 

96 

80 

80 

84 

84 

80 

85 

82.7 

Aug-. 

88 

84 

75 

83 

92 

79 

81 

89 

72 

89 

83 

86 

80.4 

Sept. 

93 

76 

63 

77 

85 

78 

78 

81 

63 

80 

66 

72 

73.4 

Oct. 

93 

76 

62 

76 

84 

76 

73 

71 

65 

71 

59 

75 

70.7 

1894 

June 

97 

84 

83 

76 

92 

88 

91 

95 

94 

97 

78 

96 

100 

88.3 

Julv 

87 

91 

88 

78 

93 

87 

88 

94 

99 

97 

73 

81 

96 

89.6 

Aug. 

96 

95 

95 

85 

93 

94 

97 

96 

85 

96 

94 

96 

93 

91.8 

Sept. 

100 

88 

86 

84 

82 

86 

83 

91 

84 

89 

84 

93 

85.9 

Oct. 

93 

76 

62 

76 

84 

76 

73 

71 

65 

71 

59 

iO 

70.7 

1895 

June 

67 

61 

72 

82 

92 

85 

88 

85 

79 

89 

87 

89 

81.0 

July 

100 

74 

84 

88 

93 

83 

86 

77 

76 

93 

92 

82.3 

Aug. 

81 

74 

81 

87 

92 

81 

83 

71 

71 

80 

89 

86 

77.9 

Sept. 

84 

78 

82 

76 

89 

71 

75 

70 

56 

78 

75 

70.8 

Oct. 

78 

68 

64 

72 

84 

70 

67 

64 

58 

72 

70 

85 

65.1 

1896 

97.2 

June 

91 

99 

97 

95 

85 

103 

104 

94 

92 

102 

118 

92 

87 

85 

July 

87 

100 

98 

94 

90 

98 

100 

100 

80 

100 

107 

90 

92 

92.5 

Aug. 

86 

93 

88 

92 

84 

93 

78 

70 

69 

65 

89 

99 

95 

87 

80.1 

Sept. 

80 

70 

70 

71 

72 

66 

61 

60 

62 

60 

61 

81 

65 

60 

64.2 

Oct. 

58 

64 

67 

67 

66 

61 

60 

61 

57 

53 

69 

79 

59 

64 

60.7 

1897 

June 

87 

84 

87 

84 

90 

81 

76 

84 

87 

83 

77 

90 

. 72 

83.5 

July 

87 

90 

86 

85 

80 

85 

81 

89 

88 

88 

80 

95 

82 

93 

86.0 

Aug. 

99 

97 

92 

95 

88 

88 

85 

90 

78 

90 

84 

85 

86 

94 

86.9 

Sept. 

90 

95 

84 

80 

86 

80 

81 

78 

70 

77 

77 

81 

95 

93 

78.3 

Oct. 

70 

7.8 

74 

70 

76 

73 

74 

72 

64 

67 

65 

74 

90 

85 

70.0 

KING  COTTON 


293 


Monthly  Condition  Reports  of  the  Department  of 
Agriculture — Cont. 

(Official  Figures) 


Virginia 

N.  Carolina 

S.  Carolina 

Georgia 

d 

'O 

Alabama 

Mississippi  j 

Louisiana 

Texas 

y) 

d 

C 

d 

<; 

1 Tennessee 

1 

Missouri 

Oklahoma 

Indian  Ter. 

Average 

1898 

June 

86 

86 

85 

89 

76 

89 

91 

89 

89 

96 

90 

96 

82 

so 

89.0 

July 

93 

87 

90 

90 

83 

91 

94 

90 

92 

93 

92 

87 

92 

89 

91.2 

Aug. 

94 

90 

89 

91 

87 

95 

88 

90 

91 

93 

97 

90 

98 

94 

91.2 

Sept. 

91 

84 

81 

80 

73 

80 

78 

76 

75 

89 

95 

94 

90 

98 

79. S 

Oct. 

84 

76 

79 

75 

66 

76 

72 

67 

73 

84 

93 

93 

75 

76 

75.4 

1899 

June 

79 

87 

86 

88 

88 

86 

78 

81 

90 

80 

85 

83 

81 

84 

85.7 

July 

86 

88 

88 

85 

90 

88 

83 

85 

93 

82 

88 

88 

78 

91 

87.8 

Aug. 

88 

83 

78 

79 

93 

82 

86 

86 

87 

86 

84 

86 

80 

93 

84.0 

Sept. 

87 

73 

66 

69 

V i 

76 

78 

74 

61 

62 

76 

85 

60 

53 

68.5 

Oct. 

76 

66 

62 

64 

79 

70 

69 

68 

56 

53 

66 

74 

60 

46 

62,4 

1900 

Jime 

94 

86 

85 

89 

88 

87 

85 

88 

71 

91 

86 

94 

75 

84 

82.5 

July 

90 

89 

79 

74 

78 

70 

64 

81 

78 

78 

76 

74 

82 

96 

75.8 

Aug. 

77 

80 

74 

77 

74 

67 

60 

77 

83 

83 

77 

84 

80 

91 

76.0 

Sept. 

73 

64 

60 

69 

71 

64 

60 

70 

77 

65 

64 

64 

78 

72 

68  2 

Oct. 

71 

64 

57 

67 

63 

62 

56 

66 

78 

65 

64 

68 

79 

77 

67.0 

1901 

June 

92 

87 

80 

80 

88 

76 

82 

80 

84 

81 

78 

83 

88 

85 

81.5 

July 

78 

77 

70 

72 

78 

SO 

86 

84 

86 

84 

85 

90 

91 

88 

81.1 

Aug. 

86 

73 

75 

78 

79 

82 

88 

82 

74 

69 

70 

71 

78 

75 

77.2 

Sept. 

82 

72 

80 

81 

78 

75 

88 

80 

56 

61 

73 

75 

68 

76 

71.4 

Oct. 

73 

63 

67 

73 

65 

65 

66 

72 

51 

51 

60 

61 

57 

61 

61.4 

1902 

June 

92 

91 

97 

94 

100 

92 

94 

96 

95 

100 

100 

100 

96 

99 

95.1 

July 

92 

93 

95 

91 

96 

84 

85 

85 

73 

94 

98 

06 

90 

89 

84.7 

Aug. 

91 

86 

88 

83 

84 

77 

80 

81 

77 

92 

92 

96 

94 

95 

81.9 

Sept. 

80 

80 

74 

68 

75 

54 

68 

70 

53 

75 

82 

73 

76 

68 

64.0 

Oct. 

73 

68 

68 

62 

68 

52 

63 

64 

47 

68 

76 

73 

61 

65 

58.3 

1903 

June 

72 

74 

76 

75 

81 

73 

78 

76 

70 

76 

83 

83 

72 

76 

74.1 

July 

76 

75 

74 

75 

85 

76 

81 

80 

79 

73 

80 

74 

67 

73 

77.1 

Aug. 

76 

78 

76 

77 

85 

79 

83 

84 

82 

76 

82 

78 

69 

75 

79.7 

Sept. 

86 

83 

80 

81 

83 

84 

87 

86 

76 

81 

91 

81 

75 

81 

81.2 

Oct. 

77 

74 

70 

68 

70 

68 

69 

71 

54 

69 

71 

74 

72 

71 

65.1 

1904 

June 

82 

84 

81 

78 

88 

80 

85 

86 

84 

84 

85 

82 

93 

90 

83.0 

July 

87 

90 

88 

85 

92 

85 

89 

90 

89 

90 

89 

89 

92 

87 

88.0 

Aug. 

90 

93 

91 

91 

94 

90 

92 

95 

91 

93 

92 

90 

95 

91 

91 .6 

Sept. 

88 

88 

87 

86 

88 

84 

87 

87 

{ i 

88 

88 

87 

96 

89 

84.1 

Oct. 

82 

82 

81 

78 

82 

76 

77 

78 

69 

77 

76 

82 

85 

83 

75.8 

1905 

June 

87 

83 

78 

84 

88 

87 

73 

73 

69 

73 

86 

84 

88 

81 

77.2 

July 

88 

82 

78 

82 

87 

83 

72 

73 

72 

75 

86 

86 

83 

79 

77.0 

Aug. 

78 

80 

79 

82 

85 

79 

69 

66 

71 

68 

80 

85 

83 

82 

74.9 

Sept. 

76 

76 

/o 

Y i 

/ / 

70 

69 

62 

70 

72 

81 

86 

82 

80 

72.1 

Oct. 

77 

77 

74 

76 

76 

70 

68 

59 

69 

72 

79 

81 

80 

78 

71.2 

Nov.^ 

77 

76 

73 

73 

73 

69 

64 

55 

68 

67 

76 

77 

74 

73 

68.8 

iThe  first  and  only  time  a condition  report  was  ever  issued  in  November. 


294 


TABLES  OF  STATISTICS 


Monthly  Condition  Reports  of  the  Department  of 
Agriculture — Cont. 

(Officiai,  Figures) 


Virginia 

N.  Carolina 

S.  Carolina 

Georgia 

Florida 

Alabama 

Mississippi 

j Louisiana 

Texas 

Arkansas 

Tennessee 

Missotxri 

Oklahoma 

Indian  Ter. 

j Average 

1906 

June 

84 

79 

82 

86 

S3 

81 

85 

86 

87 

85 

82 

86 

92 

79 

84.6 

July 

88 

80 

77 

82 

77 

84 

88 

87 

82 

86 

84 

91 

90 

84 

83.3 

Aug. 

83 

To 

72 

74 

72 

83 

88 

88 

86 

89 

88 

95 

92 

85 

82.9 

Sept. 

71 

71 

71 

72 

70 

76 

82 

76 

78 

84 

88 

94 

88 

80 

77.3 

Oct. 

66 

66 

66 

86 

84 

68 

75 

73 

74 

76 

/ 0 

82 

75 

74 

71.6 

1907 

Tune 

80 

80 

77 

74 

80 

65 

65 

64 

70 

65 

63 

65 

80 

78 

70.5 

Tulv 

6.5 

72 

79 

78 

83 

68 

67 

66 

72 

67 

69 

64 

74 

73 

72.0 

Aug. 

65 

75 

81 

81 

84 

72 

71 

71 

75 

68 

75 

66 

74 

74 

75.0 

Sept. 

77 

78 

83 

81 

80 

73 

72 

69 

67 

65 

78 

75 

72 

70 

72.7 

Oct. 

76 

76 

77 

76 

69 

68 

69 

65 

60 

65 

76 

72 

64 

67 

67.7 

190S 

Tune 

88 

87 

81 

80 

82 

78 

80 

80 

77 

85 

84 

86 

80 

79.7 

Tuly 

92 

89 

84 

83 

84 

82 

84 

80 

80 

85 

89 

87 

64 

81 .2 

Aug. 

90 

89 

84 

85 

85 

85 

86 

83 

82 

86 

88 

88 

66 

83.0 

Sept. 

87 

80 

76 

/ 

80 

77 

79 

63 

/o 

83 

88 

90 

70 

76.1 

Oct. 

78 

69 

68 

71 

72 

70 

70 

55 

71 

70 

78 

70 

70 

69.7 

KING  COTTOX 


295 


TABLE  4 

AVERAGE  AIOXTHIA'  RAINEALL  IN  THE  COTTON 
GRO^YING  STATES 


(At  Stations  of  the  United  States  Weather  Bureau) 


Rainfall  (in  inches)  for  April 


1902 

1903 

1904 

1905 

1906 

1907 

North  Carolina.. . . 

2.44 

4.81 

1.47 

4.07 

1.63 

4.21 

South  Carolina..  . . 

2.18 

2.95 

1.34 

3.83 

1.39 

4.40 

Georgia 

1.85 

3.06 

1.63 

3.33 

1.15 

5.64 

Florida 

1.45 

0.45 

1.71 

2 52 

1.20 

3.73 

Alabama 

2.34 

2 72 

2 22 

3.69 

1.03 

6.26 

Mississippi 

2.85 

1.20 

2.75 

7.38 

1.80 

6.. 36 

Louisiana 

3.50 

1.11 

3.05 

8.95 

2.91 

6.26 

Texas 

2.08 

1 .03 

2.98 

6.32 

2.67 

2 42 

2.87 

1.82 

3.88 

6.29 

0.44 

Tennessee 

2.63 

4.61 

3.26 

3.47 

2.51 

4.. 50 

Oklahoma 

3.15 

1.32 

2.82 

4.35 

4.17 

3.62 

Rainfall  (in  inches)  for  May 


1902 

1903 

1904 

1905 

1906 

1907 

North  Carolina.. . . 

2.59 

1.99 

3.43 

6.69 

3.01 

4.53 

South  Carolina..  . . 

2.09 

2.69 

2.04 

5.72 

3.00 

4.51 

Georgia 

2.34 

5.47 

2.23 

5.02 

4.32 

4.26 

Florida 

2.45 

5.36 

2.51 

5.56 

6.96 

4.86 

Alabama 

2.34 

6.05 

2.98 

5.51 

4.63 

7.94 

^Mississippi 

2.81 

3.90 

2.80 

5.27 

4.92 

10.85 

Louisiana 

3.54 

2.62 

3.20 

5.48 

2.10 

15.19 

Texas 

3.93 

2.29 

4.56 

4.82 

2.98 

6.73 

Arkansas 

4.. 34 

7.47 

3.39 

9.57 

4.71 

9.48 

Tennessee 

2.90 

4.76 

3.81 

5.98 

3.27 

6.33 

Oklahoma 

10.13 

7.33 

4.94 

7.51 

3.22 

5.02 

Rainfall  (in  inches)  for  June 


1902 

1903 

1904 

1905 

1906 

1907 

North  Carolina . . . 

4.50 

6.10 

4.60 

3.15 

7.32 

7.02 

South  Carolina..  . . 

4.48 

8.09 

4.06 

1.92 

8.88 

5.92 

Georgia 

3.54 

6.00 

2.95 

3.69 

6.31 

4.29 

Florida . 

5.95 

6.69 

6.17 

4.96 

7.65 

5. 76 

Alabama 

1.28 

4.88 

2.94 

4.56 

3.45 

2.85 

Mississippi 

1.51 

3.09 

4.37 

4.95 

3.20 

2.41 

Louisiana 

1.84 

4.18 

3.89 

7.22 

3.40 

1.77 

Texas 

1.96 

4.10 

4.28 

4.64 

2.71 

1.71 

Arkansas 

5.27 

2.53 

7.11 

5.90 

4.60 

4.48 

Tennessee 

4.52 

3.95 

3.70 

5.94 

3.38 

4.06 

Oklahoma 

2.42 

2.10 

8.23 

1.88 

4.18 

5.34 

296 


TABLES  OF  STATISTICS 


Average  Monthly  Rainfall  in  the  Cotton  Growing 
States — Cont. 


Rainfall  (in  inches)  for  July 


1902 

1903 

1904 

1905 

1906 

1907 

North  Carolina. . . 

2.74 

3.79 

5.51 

7.90 

10.28 

4.73 

South  Carolina..  . . 

3.79 

3.59 

5.96 

6.16 

8.40 

5.06 

Georgia 

4.55 

4.00 

3.81 

4.57 

8.41 

5.04 

Florida 

5.20 

6.46 

6.35 

7.55 

9.50 

7.75 

Alabama 

2.50 

3.98 

4.80 

4.56 

8.. 50 

5.00 

Mississippi 

3.68 

4.69 

6.72 

4.57 

5.99 

4.64 

Louisiana 

4.56 

6.14 

7.17 

8 52 

7.97 

4.07 

Texas 

5.84 

5.81 

2.70 

4.06 

4.71 

2.85 

Arkansas 

4.49 

3.90 

4.43 

7.60 

5.96 

1.96 

Tennessee 

1.97 

3.80 

3.78 

4.32 

6.90 

4.05 

Oklahoma 

2.22 

2.55 

3.86 

5.. 50 

5.26 

2.13 

Rainfall  (in  inches)  for  August 


1902 

1903 

1904 

1905 

1906 

1907 

North  Carolina.. . . 

3.93 

5.26 

6.24 

6.48 

9.26 

4.39 

South  Carolina. . . . 

5.07 

7.15 

8.47 

5.69 

6.62 

5.41 

Georgia 

3.92 

5.56 

7.33 

4.96 

5.82 

4.10 

Florida 

4.60 

6.84 

7.40 

11.24 

7.20 

5.97 

Alabama 

3.48 

3.57 

5.55 

5.30 

3.78 

3.50 

Mississippi 

3.77 

4.50 

4.07 

5.52 

3.00 

3.63 

Louisiana 

3.47 

4.71 

5.19 

4.92 

2.92 

4.66 

Texas 

0..30 

2.18 

2.25 

1.20 

3.54 

1.81 

Arkansas 

2.55 

4.56 

2,77 

3.73 

4.92 

2 92 

Tennessee 

3.81 

3.27 

3.00 

4.99 

4.28 

3.15 

Oklahoma 

2.19 

2.72 

3.01 

3.38 

6.57 

2.68 

Rainfall  (in  inches')  for  September 


1902 

1903 

1904 

1905 

1906 

1907 

North  C.arolina.. . 

4.56 

2.72 

3.26 

2.51 

4.38 

5.05 

South  Carolina. . . . 

3.74 

3.62 

2.46 

1.91 

4.85 

5.91 

Georgia 

4.64 

4.40 

1.48 

2.82 

5.29 

6.24 

Florida 

9.44 

7.28 

4.36 

7.62 

5.50 

8.58 

Alabama 

4.28 

1.42 

1.36 

2.51 

8.44 

5.50 

Mississippi 

5.12 

0.67 

1-51 

3.39 

9.17 

3.66 

Louisiana 

6.24 

1.72 

3.59 

5.50 

5.10 

3.71 

Texas 

5.02 

2.52 

3.99 

2.31 

3.47 

1.66 

Arkansas 

5.06 

2,44 

2,46 

3.90 

6.24 

2.22 

Tennessee 

4.61 

0.53 

2.09 

2.25 

6.46 

4.46 

Oklahoma 

5.94 

2.08 

2.55 

3.12 

4.06 

1.96 

Average  Monthly  Rainfall,  Acreage  and  Production 

(1,000’s  Omitted  in  Acrfage  and  Crop  Figures) 


1902 

1903 

1904 

1905 

1906 

1907 

2,49 

2.28 

2.. 16 

4.93 

2.09 

4.80 

May 

3.64 

4.. 54 

3.26 

6.10 

3.92 

7.24 

June 

3.39 

4.54 

4.75 

4.44 

5.01 

4.15 

Julv 

3.74 

4.43 

5.01 

5.94 

7.35 

4.. 30 

August 

3.. 37 

4.57 

5.03 

5.22 

5.26 

3.84 

September 

5.33 

2.67 

2.65 

3.44 

5.72 

4.45  ' ’ 

Total 

21.96 

23.19 

23.16 

.30.07 

29. 35 

28.78 

Acreage 

27,114 

28,017 

30,054 

31 ,000 

.32,049 

32,060 

Crop. .... 

..  10,784. 

10,016 

13,697 

10,725 

13,305 

11,261 

Yield  per  acre  (lbs. ) 

186 

167 

212 

162 

198 

176 

KING  COTTON 

TABLE  5 


297 


TONS  OF  COMMERCIAL  FERTILIZERS  CONSUMED 
IN  THE  COTTON  STATES,  1891-1908 


Year 

Virginia 

1891.. . 

1892.. . 

1893.. . 

1894. .  . 

1895. .  . 

1896.. . 
1897  . . 

114,119 

142,826 

152,082 

156,582 

156,700 

171,704 

189S. . . 

1899  . . 

1900. . . 

1901. . . 

1902. . . 

1903. . . 

1904. . . 

1905. . . 

1906. . . 

1907... 

240,000 

North 

Carolina 

South 

Carolina 

Georgia 

Florida(l) 

Alabama 

Missis- 

sippi 

Louisiana 

Texas 

150  000 

212,393 

306  734 

36,367 

115,785 

104 1 TS 

1 44  .*^85 

2Qfi  342 

84  009 

7,945 

145;466 

20o!372 

307!519 

40,342 

104,256 

25,994 

12,047 

131  243 

173,996 

315,612 

44,065 

23,895 

8,496 

111  208 

1*^0  311 

226  532 

16,342 

17,863 

4,783 

187,429 

199,497 

335,618 

26,389 

100,000 

31,869 

10,051 

278,185 

237,409 

401,979 

23,513 

96.154 

40,912 

12,542 

307,558 

261,977 

424.081 

22,078 

47,906 

14.404 

244  808 

248  496 

342  869 

21,242 

39,887 

23,866 

276,238 

3o6;857 

412,756 

33,218 

135,852 

66,667 

31,813 

339,941 

336,294 

478,818 

45,574 

184,260 

66,174 

47,943 

330,714 

326,980 

493,808 

58,286 

199,080 

77,858 

53,874 

376,587 

395,639 

628,484 

76,895 

247,203 

81,892 

76,198 

432,720 

475,897 

689,917 

101,9.50 

248,094 

137,942 

95,964 

7,000 

433,945 

521,758 

713,582 

91,9.59 

298,422 

114,260 

94,729 

10,000 

478,564 

668,634 

838,560 

101,964 

306,863 

138,468 

85,626 

13,000 

459,166 

603,939 

786,736 

107,227 

312,407 

138,670 

102,4,54 

19,200 

(1)  Does  not  include  cotton  seed  meal.  Tennessee  consumes  about  28,000  tons  annually. 


TABLE  (i 

EXPORTS  OF  COTTON  FROM  THE  UNITED  STATES 
TO  PRINCIPAL  FOREIGN  COUNTRIES,  1900-1908 


(For  the  Year  Ending  August  31) 

(Commercial  Bales) 


Countries 

190S 

1907 

1906 

1905 

1 

1904  1 

1903 

1902 

1901 

Europe. 

United 

Kingdom. 

2,925,089 

3,734,082 

2,872,564 

4,038,313 

2,493,061 

2,715,037 

2,977,320 

3,030,348 

Belgium. . . 

118,075 

140,616 

107,685 

150,654 

106,218 

145,646 

127,370 

148,562 

France 

898,147 

916, 5o6 

775,688 

854,496 

704,102 

781,291 

753,424 

740,127 

Germany. . 

2,375,882 

2,206,386 

1,758,731 

2,074,812 

1,792,218 

1,816,456 

1,640,533 

1,673,930 

Italy 

418,199 

537,412 

476,066 

536,428 

37.3,580 

411,877 

437,229 

384,876 

Russia 

100,408 

112,024 

108,431 

12.5,463 

155,229 

173,304 

74,775 

44,974 

Spain 

252,896 

260,631 

253,847 

289,667 

186,776 

249,347 

274,621 

255,533 

Other 
European 
Countries . 

175.760 

200,456 

119,044 

166,974 

106,040 

157,821 

123,711 

140,708 

British  N. 
America. . 

108.130 

123,802 

123,045 

123,934 

88,151 

119,468 

119,908 

102,660 

Mexico .... 

3,617 

639 

23,879 

73,266 

54,871 

59,074 

31,711 

.31,919 

Japan 

189,913 

248,145 

129,714 

324,668 

47,295 

133,828 

148,501 

85,590 

All  other 
Countries. 

4,199 

7,039 

4,840 

9,4,50 

2,214 

2,809 

6,690 

704 

Total 

7,569,315 

8,487,788' 

6,753,534 

8,768,125 

6.109.755 

6,765,953 

6,715,793 

6,639,931 

Value.. . 

1443,163,331 

1471,174,869 

|S3£4,600,195 

$402,852,657 

5375,076,775 

$310,627,540 

$284,279,190 

$317,816,429 

Export 
price  per 
lb.  Cts. 

11.4 

10.7 

i 11.0 

1 

8.9 

I 12.0 

9.0 

8.3 

9.3 

298 


TABLES  OF  STATISTICS 


TABLE  7 

EXPORTS  OF  DOMESTIC  COTTON  FROM  THE 
UNITED  STATES  IN  1905,  1906,  1907  AND  1908 


During  the  Year  Ending  August  31 


Customs  District 

1905 

(Running 

Bales) 

1906 

(Running 

Bales) 

1907 

(Running 

Bales) 

1908 

(Running 
Bales  1 

Bangor,  Me 

S04 

1,982 

240 

982 

Passamaquoddy,  Me 

4,499 

5,763 

4,591 

7,950 

1 880 

7,399 

1 

Boston  (2).  Mass 

228,346 

147,030 

156,788 

156,780 

New  York,  N.  Y 

666.763 

520,624 

480,476 

619,453 

Philadelphia,  Pa 

71,263 

39,886 

41.091 

56,138 

Baltimore,  Md 

194,299 

1.56,178 

165.221 

117,932 

Newport  News,  Va 

24,873 

7,183 

6,140 

1,636 

Norfolk  (3),  Va 

24,756 

27,239 

9,514 

40,985 

Wilmington,  N.  C 

.36.5,099 

320,083 

317.507 

492,830 

Charleston.  S.  C 

78.013 

9,900 

21,429 

44,518 

Savannah,  Ga 

1,290.989 

970,002 

923,679 

892.080 

Brunswick,  Ga 

169,738 

148.551 

141,940 

176,015 

433 

674 

100 

9 

205,418 

176,277 

1.55,691 

173,213 

184,069 

140,301 

163,203 

259,590 

2,463,421 

1.570,844 

2,072,387 

1,870.709 

(4) 

13,711 

108,500 

Galveston,  Tex 

2,.388,318 

2,269,029 

3,448,006 

2,301.168 

13  921 

3,529 

462 

4 451 

150 

329 

Corpus  Christi,  Tex 

17!6i6 

5.831 

575 

677 

168 

564 

748 

16 

2,377 

458 

3 

San  Francisco,  Cal 

153,070 

38,392 

83,123 

48.672 

14,591 

4,849 

1.001 

1,050 

Puget  Sound,  Wash 

144,249 

65.022 

146.645 

101,800 

North  and  South  Dakota.  . 

2,756 

5,839 

4.232 

115 

3 

25 

53 

65,553 

73,902 

88.804 

54,868 

Huron,  Mich 

40,595 

29,474 

19,574 

23.542 

100 

226 

338 

225 

773 

15 

18 

18 

Champlain,  N.  Y 

1,517 

">3Q 

6,011 

952 

10,509 

3,667 

8,597 

4,717 

2,8.54 

6,851 

Memphremagog,  Vt 

3,931 

9,077 

11,967 

10,469 

Chicago.  Ill 

Total 

8,834,929 

6,763,041 

8,.503,265 

7,.569.315 

(1)  Includes  Falmouth.  Me. 

(2)  Includes  Charlestown,  Mass. 

(3)  Includes  Portsmouth,  Va. 

(4)  Included  with  Galveston  prior  to  March  1,  1907. 


KING  COTTON 


299 


TABLE  8 

CONSUIVIPTION  AND  PRODUCTION  OF  COTTON 
IN  THE  SOUTHERN  STATES,  1850-1908 


Number 
of  Mills 

Number  of 
Spindles 

Number  of 
Bales 
Consumed 

Number  of 
Bales 

Produced  (2) 

Per  Cent, 
of  Croo 
Used' 

1849-50 

168 

245,810 

80,300 

2,469,093 

3 . 3 

1859— 60 

166 

304,551 

101,688 

5,387,052 

1.9 

1869-70 

154 

344,046 

83.068 

3,011,994 

2.8 

1874-75 

181 

481,821 

1 4.5,078 

3,832,991 

3.8 

1879-80 

163 

56'8.458 

188,398 

5,755,359 

3.3 

1884-85  (1) 

232 

1,100,132 

315.842 

5.706,165 

5 -5 

1889-90 

240 

‘ 1,554,000 

526,856 

7,472,511 

7.1 

1890-91 

284 

1,761,547 

605,916 

8,652,597 

7.0 

1891-92 

293 

1,9.38,524 

681,471 

9,035,379 

7.5 

1892-93 

315  . 

2,088,697 

733,701 

6,700,365 

11 .0 

1893-94 

322 

2,171,342 

723,329 

7.549.817 

9.6 

1894-95 

323 

2,-382,781 

8.5,3,352 

9,901,251 

8.6 

1895-96 

354 

2,867,3.33 

857,8.35 

7,157,346 

12,0 

1896-97 

402 

3.344.327 

981,991 

8.757.964 

11  3 

1897-98 

425 

3,574,754 

1,227,674 

11,199,994 

10  .9 

1898-99 

444 

3,8.32,401 

1,413,894 

11,274,840 

12.5 

1899-00 

499 

4,999,587 

1,570,812 

9,436,416 

10.7 

1900-01 . 

581 

5,-590,783 

1.576,786 

10.383,422 

15.2 

1901-02 

624 

6,522,622 

1,881,1.32 

10,680,680 

17.6 

1902-03 

640 

7,100.292 

1,925,954 

10,727,559 

18.0 

1903-04 

628 

7,963,866 

2,007,509 

10,011,374 

20.0 

1904-05 

659 

8.747,810 

2,203,406 

13.565,885 

16  2 

1905-06 

667 

9,181,207 

2,398,404 

11,345,988 

21.1 

1906-07 

694 

9,924.245 

2,487,088 

13,510,982 

18.3 

1907-08 

717 

10,451,919 

2,234,395 

11,581,829 

19.3 

(1)  The  niimbers  of  spindles  and  mills  are  for  the  year  1886. 

(2)  Commercial  crop. 


TABLE  9 

NUMBER  OF  BALES  AND  POUNDS,  AND  VALUE 
OF  COTTON  PRODUCED  SINCE  1790 


Period 

Number  of 
Bales 

Average 
Weight  of 
Bales 

Number  of 
Potmds 

Average 
Price  per 
Pound 

Value 

1790-1800 

520,000 

225 

117,000,000 

Cents 

33.80 

-S  39.546,000 

1800-1810 

2,837.000 

247 

700,739,000 

21  95 

153,812,210 

1810-1820 

4,096,000 

269 

1,101,824.000 

20.50 

225,873,920 

1820-1830 

8,311,000 

.308 

2,559,788,000 

12.50 

319.973,500 

1830-1840 

13,681.000 

368 

5,034,608.000 

12. .39 

623,787,931 

1840-1850 

21,642,000 

415 

8,981,4,30,000 

8.50 

76.3.421,550 

1850-1860 

33,761,000 

436 

14,719,978,000 

11 .31 

1.664.829,512 

1860-1870 

23,075,000 

460 

10,614,500,000 

44.00 

4.765.910,500 

1870-1880 

43,976.000 

445 

19,569,413,000 

14.64 

2,864.062,063 

1880-1890 

64,808,000 

465 

30.135.720,000 

10  .75 

.3,239,589,900 

1890-1900 

89,666,000 

478 

42,860,348,000 

7 59 

3,253.100,413 

1900-1907 

80,226,000 

486 

38,989,836,000 

10.32 

4,02.3,751,075 

Total 

386,599,000 

175,-385,184.000 

321,9.38,-558,574 

300 


TABLES  OF  STATISTICS 


TABLE  10 

THE  WORLD'S  CONSUMPTION  OF  COTTON, 
1890-91  TO  1907-08 

(Bales  of  500  Pounds) 


Date 

Great 

Britain 

Continent 
of  Europe 

I'nited 

States 

East 

Indies 

Japan 

Canada, 

•Mexico, 

etc. 

Total 

Year  ended  Sept.  30 — 

1890-91 

3,384,000 

3,631,000 

2,367,000 

924,000 

100,000 

107,000 

10,51.3,000 

1891-92 

3,181,000 

3,619,000 

2,576,000 

914,000 

203,000 

110,000 

10,603.000 

1892-93 

2,866,000 

3,661,000 

2.551,000 

918,000 

191,000 

110,000 

10,297,000 

1893-94 

3,233,000 

3,827,000 

2,264,000 

959,000 

284,000 

110,000 

10,677,000 

1894-95 

3,250,000 

4,030,000 

2.743,000 

1,052,000 

360,000 

130,000 

11, .565,000 

1895-96 

3,276.000 

4,160,000 

2,572,000 

1,105,000 

412,000 

120,000 

11.645,000 

1896-97 

3,224,000 

4,.368,000 

2,738,000 

1,019,000 

495,000 

120.000 

11,964,000 

1897-98 

3,432,000 

4,628,000 

2,962,000 

1,161,000 

645,000 

140,000 

12.968,000 

1898-99 

3,519,000 

4,784,000 

3,553,000 

1,314,000 

747,000 

140,000 

14,0.57,000 

1899-1900 

3,334,000 

4,576,000 

3,856,000 

1,139,000 

706,000 

130,000 

13,741,000 

1900-01 

3,269,000 

4,576,000 

3,727,000 

1,059,000 

536,000 

130,000 

13,297,000 

1901-02 

3,253,000 

4,784,000 

4,037,000 

1,383,000 

743.000 

149,000 

14,349,000 

1902-03 

3,185,000 

5.148,000 

4,015,000 

1,3.50,000 

439,000 

202,000 

14,339,000 

1903-04 

3,017,000 

.5,148,000 

3,909,000 

1,270,000 

360,000 

176,000 

13,880,000 

1904-05 

3,620,000 

5,148,000 

4,310,000 

1,473,000 

755,000 

236,000 

1.5, .542,000 

1905-06 

3,774,000 

5,2,52,000 

4,726,000 

1,586,000 

873,000 

174,000 

16,384,000 

1906-07 

3,892,000 

5,460,000 

4,9.50,000 

1,, 552, 000 

906,000 

171,000 

17,006,000 

1907-08  

3,840,000 

5,440,000 

4,227,000 

1,.500,000 

850,000 

142,000 

15,999,000 

Note — The  above  estimates  of  the  world’s  consumption  of  cotton,  compiled  from  the  tables  of  the  Com- 
mercial and  Financial  Chronicle,  are  based  only  upon  the  commercial  movement  and  the  imports  of  cotton  into 
each  country.  China,  Brazil,  and  Korea  are  not  included,  and  only  the  imports  into  Mexico.  Each  of  these 
countries  produce  and  consume  large  quantities  of  cotton,  but  no  statistics  are  available  for  China  and  Korea. 
According  to  the  latest  official  reports  the  production  in  ^lexico  in  1906  amounted  to  276,000  bales  (compared 
with  130.000  bales  six  years  ago)  and  the  consumption  to  about  200,000  bales.  The  latest  reliable  statistics 
for  Brazil  show  a consumption  in  1905  of  about  140,000  bales  of  500  pounds  each.  The  production  in  1906  was 
about  350,000  bales,  of  which  140,000  were  exported. 


KING  COTTON 


301 


TABLE  11 

THE  WORLD’S  VISIBLE  SUPPLY  OF  COTTON, 
1903-1908 


(Commercial  Bales) 


1908 

1907 

1906 

1905 

1904 

1903 

Stock  at  Liverpool 

362,000 

780,000 

380,000 

723,000 

190,000 

2.34,000 

“ “ London 

10,000 

24,000 

16,000 

22,000 

30,000 

20,000 

“ “ Manchester 

45,000 

58,000 

44,000 

51,000 

18,000 

24,000 

Total  Stock  in  Grt.  Britain. 

417,000 

862,000 

440,000 

796,000 

238,000 

278,000 

Stock  at  Hamburg 

24,000 

18,000 

19,000 

14,000 

43,000 

25,000 

“ “ Bremen 

171,000 

140,000 

84,000 

199,000 

61,000 

59,000 



4 non 

R non 

" " Ha\Te  

89,000 

126,000 

62.000 

80,000 

71,000 

59^000 

“ “ Marseilles 

4,000 

3,000 

4,000 

3.000 

3,000 

3,000 

“ “ Barcelona 

22,000 

18,000 

7,000 

18,000 

23,000 

10,000 

Genoa 

13,000 

22,000 

21,000 

9,000 

19.000 

15,000 

'■  “ Trieste 

18,000 

38,000 

5,000 

3,000 

18,000 

12,000 

Total  Continental  Stocks.. 

341,000 

365.000 

202,000 

326,000 

242,000 

186,000 

Total  European  Stocks. . . 

778,000 

1,227,000 

'642,000 

1,122,000 

480,000 

464,000 

Indian.  Afloat  for  Europe. 

54,000 

110.000 

50,000 

109,000 

23,000 

64,000 

American,  Afloat  for 

Europe 

96,171 

31,679 

121,073 

184,000 

54,000 

17,000 

Egvptian,  Brazilian,  etc., 

Afloat  for  Europe 

Ib.UUU 

19,000 

12,000 

18,000 

18,000 

13.000 

Stock  at  Alexandria 

61,000 

20,000 

28,000 

46,000 

55,000 

9.000 

“ “ Bombav 

407,000 

560,000 

627,000 

607,000 

330,000 

382,000 

“ “ United  States 

ports 

179,525 

275.636 

193,879 

327,430 

103.444 

151,220 

“ “ United  States  In- 

^ terior  towns. . . 

117,335 

79,654 

96,276 

132,040 

60,443 

13,106 

United  States  Exports 

4,510 

875 

9,298 

109 

Total  Visible  Supply. 

1,713,541 

2,.323,844 

1,779,526 

2,545,570 

1,123,887 

1,113,435 

Of  the  above — 

1908 

1907 

1906 

1905 

1904 

1903 

American 

Liverpool  Stock 

277,000 

659,000 

287,000 

660,000 

118,000 

155,000 

Manchester  Stock . 

34,000 

47.000 

39,000 

45,000 

13,000 

22,000 

Continental  Stock 

261,000 

262,000 

147,000 

290,000 

128,000 

110,000 

American,  Afloat  for 

Europe 

96,171 

31,679 

121,073 

184,000 

54.000 

17,000 

United  States  Port  Stocks 

1 i 9,525 

275,636 

193,879 

327,430 

103,444 

151,220 

United  States  Interior 

Stocks 

117,335 

79,654 

96,276 

1.32,040 

60,443 

13,106 

Lnited  States  Exports 

To-day 

4,510 

9,298 

109 

Total  American 

969,541 

1,355,844 

893,526 

1,638,470 

176,887 

468,435 

East  Indian,  Brazilian,  etc. 

Liverpool  .Stock 

105,000 

121,000 

93,000 

63.000 

72,000 

79,000 

London  vStock 

10,000 

24,000 

16,000 

22,000 

30,000 

20,000 

Manchester  Stock 

11,000 

11,000 

5,000 

6,000 

5,000 

2.000 

Continental  Stock 

80,000 

103,000 

55,000 

36,000 

114,000 

76,000 

Indian.  Afloat  for  Europe. 

54,000 

110,000 

50.000 

109,000 

23,000 

64,000 

Egyptian,  Brazilian,  etc.. 

Afloat  for  Europe 

16,000 

19,000 

12,000 

18,000 

18,000 

13,000 

Stock  in  Alexandria 

61,000 

20,000 

28,000 

46,000 

55,000 

9,000 

“ " Bombav 

407,000 

560,000 

627,000 

607,000 

330,000 

382,000 

Total  East  Indian,  etc. 

744,000 

968,000 

886,000 

907,000 

647,000 

645,000 

Total  American 

969,541 

1.355,000 

893,526 

1,638,470 

476,887 

468,435 

Total  A'isible  Supply . 

1,713,541 

2,323,844 

1.779.526 

2.,545,470 

1,123,887 

1,113,435 

Price,  Midland  Upland, 

Liverpool 

5.25  d. 

7.49  d. 

5.41  d. 

5.83  d. 

6.64  d. 

6.52  d. 

Price,  Midland  Upland, 

New  York 

9.50  cts. 

13  .55  cts. 

9 .80  cts. 

10  .95  cts. 

11 .10  cts. 

12  .50  cts. 

TABLE  12 


AMOUNT  OF  COTTON  GINNED  TO 
THE  SEASON,  BY 


Growth 
I year 


United  States. 


Alabama . 


Arkan  sas. 


Florida. 


Georgia. 


Kansas.  Kentucky,  etc.. 


Louisiana. 


jMississippi . 


Missouri . 


North  Carolina. 


Oklahoma. 


South  Carolina. 


Tennessee. 


Texas. 


Virginia. 


1907 

1906 

1905 

1904 

1907 

1906 

1905 

1904 

1907 

1906 

1905 

1904 

1907 

1906 

1905 

1904 

1907 

1906 

1905 

1904 

1907 

1906 

1905 

1904 

1907 

1906 

1905 

1904 

1907 

1906 

1905 

1904 

1907 

1906 

1905 

1904 

1907 

1906 

1905 

1904 

1907 

1906 

1905 

1904 

1907 

1906 

1905 

1904 

1907 

1906 

1905 

1904 

1907 

1906 

1905 

1904 

1907 

1906 

1905 
1904 


Sept.  1 


200.278 

407.551 

476.655 

374.821 


8.132 

24.312 

50,636 

25.678 

75 
446 

58 

76 

942 

1.898 

4.615 

1,9.56 

34,822 

25,298 

116.205 

61,706 


756 

14,0.33 

3,550 

5,433 

194 

9.690 

4,413 

2,652 


43 

32 

3,028 

134 

16 

13 

102 

1,098 

3,041 

3,240 

38,719 

4,215 


152,257 
328, .586 
255,327 
271,871 


RUNNING  B.^LES,  COUNTING 


Sept.  25  I Oct.  IS 


1,532,602 

2,057,283 

2.355.716 


137.658 

221,851 

331,807 


10,133 

35,837 

7,298 


7,868 

10,479 

20,649 


342,704 

281,585 

596,711 


30 


45,7.50 

139,511 

46,503 


71,043 

1.56,573 

96,789 


82 
1 .0.50 
245 


40,388 

44,877 

119,237 


31.422 
17,. 570 
22,619 


185,6,56 

131,262 

324,083 


2,474 
7, .394 
3,306 


657,423 

1,008,8.56 

786,176 


1 

408 

293 


4,420,258 

4,931,621 

4,990,566 

6,417,894 


416.912 

469,647 

644,165 

685,244 

163,371 

163,102 

119,899 

237,711 

19,863 
24,321 
37, .509 
40.642 

878,643 

720.316 

1,066,998 

1.0.52,570 

342 

218 

177 

284 

180,720 

321,123 

134,718 

383,600 

410,065 

365,058 

319,408 

561,572 

5,934 

7,375 

8,599 

10,621 

216,104 

223,437 

334,649 

309,097 

240.210 

198,709 

179,108 

280,144 

5.37,273 

396,551 

642,9.32 

629,857 

60,644 

38,858 

67.134 

79,552 

1.289,324 

1,998,807 

1,4,31,093 

2,141,855 

853 

4,099 

4,177 

5,145 


Nov.  1 


6, 128, .562 
6,906,395 
6,457,595 


609,297 
676,747 
816, .566 


291,143 

306,762 

210,528 


28,626 

34,707 

48,718 


1,202,485 

1.003,718 

1,304,041 


524 

571 

305 


280,144 

441.757 

22.5,288 


634,605 

.591,254 

513,.504 


1 1 ,639 
1.3.878 
14.224 


326,979 

311.448 

439,027 


.373, .568 
341,808 
281,960 


7.35,994 

549,857 

822,2.32 


108,068 

92,916 

108,907 


1.523,147 

2,535,551 

1,664,266 


2, .34.3 
5,421 
8,029 


302 


SPECIFIED  DATES  AND  TO  THE  END  OF 
STATES:  1904  TO  1907 

CENSUS  bureau) 


ROUND  AS  HALF  BALES  AND  EXCLUDING  LINTERS 


Nov.  14 

Dec.  1 

Dec.  13 

Jan.  1 

Jan.  16 

Total  crop 

7,300,665 

8,343.396 

9,284,070 

9.951, .505 

10,339,551 

11,057,822 

8,562,242 

10.027,868 

11,112,789 

11,741,039 

12,176.199 

12,983,201 

7,501,180 

8,689,663 

9,297,819 

9,725,426 

9,989,634 

10,495,105 

9,786.646 

11.971.477 

12,767,600 

13.451,337 

744.627 

856.596 

961,739 

1,032.177 

1,070,090 

1,113,093 

834,910 

1,018,955 

1,136,844 

1,190,062 

1,216.606 

1,241,133 

944,391 

1,067,424 

1,133,318 

1,176,608 

1.202,145 

1,228,000 

1,065,438 

1,319.711 

1,411.834 

1,451.362 

385.528 

484,181 

572,418 

626.551 

666,810 

751,851 

453,658 

570,924 

673,030 

731,547 

764,100 

894,268 

309.280 

423,738 

475.574 

510,599 

534,687 

598,915 

769,388 

825,919 

901.223 

35,454 

40,681 

45,685 

50,085 

53,486 

56,668 

42,278 

50,028 

55,916 

59,011 

60,432 

61,473 

56.628 

65,250 

69,752 

72,889 

75,229 

78,838 

60.291 

75,713 

81,855 

1,388,694 

1,518,199 

1,632,463 

1,725,965 

1,771,832 

1,860,323 

1,193,147 

1,391,224 

1,514,6.37 

1,. 571, 582 

1,601,922 

1,632,703 

1.439,392 

1,559,279 

1,620,741 

1,670,466 

1.695,4.34 

1,725,272 

1.540.749 

1,790,792 

1,898.397 

1,982,890 

790 

1,051 

1,158 

1.422 

1,644 

2,310 

835 

983 

1,204 

1.362 

1,409 

1,921 

471 

628 

1,053 

1,218 

1,325 

1,3.50 

850 

1.252 

1.882 

1,936 

351,241 

424,433 

501.612 

560.780 

598.439 

662,0.32 

552,919 

672,873 

764,850 

836,459 

888,577 

955,473 

282,936 

363,318 

416,237 

456,339 

484,328 

511,738 

663.423 

872,403 

982.598 

1.083.683 

794.992 

955,414 

1,120,908 

1,2.30,127 

1,287,389 

1,442,881 

792,778 

1,007,879 

1,184,914 

1,289,294 

1,361,838 

1,483,408 

666,642 

841,775 

951 ,656 

1,033.794 

1,084,409 

1,168,0.59 

1.031  644 

1 415,376 

1.576,533 

1.774.464 

15,102 

20,298 

23,674 

26,644 

29,493 

34,105 

21,960 

28,604 

34,141 

38,441 

40,179 

51,763 

22.221 

30,394 

33,538 

35,427 

37,187 

40,314 

28.217 

39.653 

44.203 

49,498 

399,050 

468,447 

523,257 

565,207 

591,851 

637  961 

384,275 

490,540 

546,524 

571,628 

587,759 

611.258 

510.202 

573,560 

608,183 

629,344 

637,701 

652,815 

519.427 

659,135 

704.801 

749,712 

484.657 

598,723 

685.595 

742.042 

782,790 

848,977 

484,996 

574,043 

643,667 

701,814 

741,633 

871,961 

.363,241 

476,997 

532,362 

576,076 

595,330 

660,027 

529,277 

702,980 

761,739 

796.382 

851,361 

943.868 

1,014.356 

1,065,876 

1,093,416 

1.163,565 

654.458 

769.785 

8.38,828 

868,977 

887,087 

912,602 

912,603 

993,315 

1,042,877 

1,075,936 

1,092,932 

1,112,.363 

930,713 

1.085.725 

1,144.514 

1,192,926 

139.-959 

177,048 

204,450 

225.292 

238.404 

266,433 

142,661 

184,242 

220,5.52 

241,8.38 

2.52,533 

293,023 

156,152 

203,384 

225.447 

240,565 

248,683 

269,0.30 

195.873 

271.181 

297.443 

320,317 

1,705,529 

1,849.262 

1,989,968 

2,091 ,667 

2,145,695 

2,208,021 

2,99.5.791 

3,257.001 

3.485.565 

.3.626,117 

3,7,58,493 

3,957,619 

1,826.125 

2,077,026 

2,172,881 

2,231,689 

2,284.954 

2,432,718 

2,653,203 

2,953,067 

3 019.944 

3,062,203 

3,681 

5.195 

6,787 

7,670 

8,212 

9,602 

7,576 

10,787 

12,117 

12,907 

13,631 

14,596 

10,896 

13,575 

14,200 

14.476 

15,290 

15.666 

11,518 

15,101 

15,938 

17,216 

303 


304 


TABLES  OF  STATISTICS 


TABLE  13 


WEEKLY  VISIBLE  SUPPLY  OF  AMERICAN  COTTON 
EACH  WEEK,  1902-1907 

(Commercial  Bales) 


Week  ending 

1907-08 

1906-07 

1905-06 

1904-05 

1903-04 

1902-03 

September 

1 

1,355,844 

893,526 

1,638,470 

476,887 

468,435 

800,648 

7 

1,285,205 

86.3,689 

1,676,642 

541,956 

418,415 

800,831 

14 

1,298,050 

916,032 

1.801.253 

653,131 

457,407 

909,926 

“ 

21 

1,365,505 

1,001,365 

1 ,946„823 

872,357 

622,462 

1,083,365 

“ 

28 

1,510,2.54 

1,197,746 

2,134,939 

1,295,211 

872,231 

1,306,737 

October 

5 

?1,626,934 

1,387,380 

2,350,^54 

1.650,466 

1,125..302 

1 ,516,144 

“ 

12 

1,812,913 

1,606,419 

2,575,408 

1.937,481 

1,344,662 

1,684,380 

“ 

19 

2,025,584 

1,885,089 

2,790,957 

2,235,665 

1,642,367 

1,883,776 

“ 

26 

2,257,127 

2,264,679 

2,942,175 

2,464,383 

1,895,498 

2,060,061 

November 

9. 

2,425,877 

2,.555,.308 

3,100.096 

2,705,675 

2,149.831 

2,289,585 

9 . .. 

2,585,299 

2,861,053 

3,294,345 

2,932„399 

2,460.521 

2,.397,201 

“ 

16 

2,785,153 

3,066,886 

3,497,257 

3,163,985 

2,744,032 

2,569,237 

“ 

23. . . ■ ■ 

2,990,031 

3,.301,721 

3,712,561 

3,360.765 

2,866.589 

2,741,482 

“ 

30 

3,040,546 

3,516,031 

3,794.474 

3,537,916 

3.049,400 

2,780,077 

December 

7. . . • ■ 

3,205,512 

3,7.54,386 

3,933,696 

3,734,113 

3,135,251 

2,926,425 

“ 

14. . . ■ ■ 

3,370;324 

3,910,534 

4,002,684 

3,827,192 

3,217,271 

2,985,070 

“ 

21 

3,5.39,558 

3,989,913 

4,0.32,236 

3,890,550 

3,359„533 

3,706,136 

28 

3,738,720 

1908 

4,152,931 

1907 

4,162,437 

1906 

3,952,751 

1905 

3,386.678 

1904 

3,105,315 

1903 

January 

4 

3,830,468 

4,167,577 

4,141,660 

3,!- 83,011 

3,343,890 

3,209,843 

11 

3,878,522 

4,281,564 

4,103,988 

3,840,660 

3,287.622 

3,238,868 

“ 

18 

3,842,488 

4.352,427 

4,056,131 

3,722,715 

3,206,043 

3,244,393 

“ 

25 

3,819,486 

4,410,270 

3,917,809 

3,700,617 

3,110,654 

3,223.028 

February 

1 

3,863,342 

4.365,483 

3,886,0.38 

3,547,715 

3,042,751 

3,236,228 

8 

3,835,689 

4,344,121 

3,821,958 

3,471,092 

2,941,498 

3,137,316 

“ 

15 

3,752,197 

4.325,652 

,3,760,640 

3.301,269 

2,837,4  2 

3,077,726 

“ 

27 

3,667,686 

4,284,580 

3,714,798 

3,204,432 

2,688,985 

3,007,781 

March 

1 

3,556,945 

4.254,510 

3,605,160 

3,186,271 

2,579,769 

2,931,562 

“ 

8 

3,454,947 

4,144.987 

3,509,861 

3,090,391 

2,409,579 

2,766,863 

“ 

15 

3,399,641 

4,091.298 

3,4,32,677 

3,063,590 

2.320,458 

2,622,317 

“ 

22 

3,298,783 

4,040,296 

3,306,644 

3,055,4.35 

2,242,839 

2,495.007 

“ 

29 

3,195,497 

4,001,102 

3,127,871 

3,028,411 

2,176,120 

2,432.540 

April 

5 

3,087,160 

3,882,459 

2,991.658 

3,002,877 

2,070,516 

2,375,481 

12 

3,017,727 

3,791,332 

2,933,779 

2,964,801 

1.985,746 

2,281,108 

“ 

19 

2,9.39,028 

3,619,498 

2,8.39,012 

2,936,273 

1,921,646 

2,178,131 

“ 

26 

2,819,198 

3,484,085 

2,766,886 

2,907,316 

1,852,625 

2,136,640 

May 

3 

2,694,177 

3,376,972 

2,642,925 

2,828,559 

1,742,262 

2,051,056 

10 

2,559,109 

3,176..351 

2.531.022 

2,762,056 

1,664.593 

1,904,053 

“ 

17 

2,413,626 

3,045,184 

2,426,784 

2,652,008 

1,580,603 

1,791,095 

“ 

24 

2,296,284 

2,929, .347 

2,334,532 

2,615,760 

1,520.295 

1,702,289 

“ 

31 

2,154,986 

2,804,8.33 

2.236,862 

2,525,917 

1,424,341 

1 .623,367 

June 

7 

2,036,976 

2,653,708 

2,145,269 

2,441,279 

1,325,318 

1,542.878 

14 

1,929,137 

2,5.32,829 

1,990,471 

2,362,304 

1,244,108 

1,415,704 

“ 

21 

1,841,285 

2,421,595 

1,839,535 

2,248,314 

1,180.234 

1,319,190 

“ 

28 

1,736,702 

2,267,793 

1,74.3.081 

2,151,233 

1,099,931 

1,2.38.196 

July 

5 

1,611,622 

2,125,626 

1,602,268 

2,0,50,376 

1,014,399 

1 ,168,653 

12 

1,499,970 

2,011,435 

1,488,428 

1,978,793 

910,209 

1,084,775 

19 

1,413,427 

1,860,242 

1,382.642 

1,942,763 

825,981 

1.606,942 

26 

1,318,543 

1,7.84,546 

1,274.631 

1,881,351 

747,667 

936,839 

August 

2 

1,243,264 

1,698,607 

1,187,9.59 

1,806.862 

664,458 

864,119 

9 

1,120,923 

1,601,168 

1,083,179 

1,713,379 

578,133 

775.425 

16 

1,056,296 

1,508,208 

993,024 

1,676,859 

511,779 

702,216 

23 

1,000,933 

1,425,921 

1 942,932 

1,613,826 

471,569 

608,583 

30 

969,541 

1,355,844 

j 898,156 

1,638,470 

476,887 

525,270 

KING  COTTON  305 

TABLE  14 

STOCKS  OF  COTTON  AT  UNITED  STATES  PORTS 
AT  THE  CLOSE  OF  AUGUST 


Port 

1907 

1906 

1905 

1904 

1903 

1902 

Galveston 

New  Orleans 

Mobile 

Savannah 

Charleston 

TTilmington 

Brunswick 

Norfolk 

Baltimore 

New  York 

Philadelphia 

Boston 

30,820 

31,964 

2,877 

8,593 

3,318 

553 

39 

9,562 

2,312 

169,975 

650 

4,016 

52,318 

15,273 

4,355 

17,164 

3,464 

475 

70,186 

43,444 

3,381 

30,036 

4,223 

2,490 

1,391 

15,543 

4.000 

132,102 

952 

3,294 

537 

7,808 

18 

43,225 

22,000 

1,156 

13,185 

331 

306 

1,131 

13,493 

421 

2,745 

128 

205 

31,449 

36,562 

2,583 

20,742 

4,220 

6,701 

19 

1,856 

1,000 

56,266 

1,713 

1,662 

9,928 

2,000 

83,971 

1 ,250 
2,266 

1,141 

100 

26,844 

135 

3,254 

750 

38 

100 

139,449 

650 

3,680 

3,909 

4,104 

229 

Total 

268,678 

196,797 

319,405 

112,427 

162,040 

164,773 

TABLE  15 

PRODUCTION  OF  SEA-ISLAND  COTTON, 

1890-91—1907-08 


The  following  table  gives  the  production  of  each  State,  the  total  crop, 
and  the  number  of  bales  exported  and  the  number  retained  for  domestic 
consumption  from  1890-91  to  1907-08,  inclusive.  The  total  crop  for 
1894-95  includes  34  bales  of  Texas  growth  marketed  at  Galveston;  that 
for  1895-96,  991 ; and  that  for  1896-97,  2,500.  The  total  crop  for  1897-98 
includes  7 bales  grown  in  Alabama  and  10  in  Texas,  and  that  for  1898-99, 
6 bales  grown  in  Louisiana.  The  crop  estimates  from  1896  to  1903,  in- 
clusive, are  those  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture.  All  other  figures 
in  the  table  are  taken  from  commercial  authorities. 


Sea-Island  Cotton  Crops,  1890-91  to  1907-08 

(In  Commercial  Bales) 


Year 

Florida 

Georgia 

South 

Carolina 

Total 

Exports 

American 

consump- 

tion 

1890-91 

25,320 

26,531 

16,267 

68,118 

39,116 

26,651 

1891-92 

20,628 

27,100 

1 1 ,44.3 

59,171 

27.568 

32,093 

1892-93 

9,685 

28,324 

7,413 

45,422 

22.548 

22,911 

1893-94 

19,107 

.39,367 

2,578 

61  0.52 

.37,333 

24..345 

1894-95 

15.176 

53,716 

5,913 

74,839 

40,741 

34,981 

1895-96 

21.664 

60,522 

10,010 

93,187 

50,063 

40,530 

1896-97 

26,431 

64,668 

10,769 

104,368 

58,481 

40,670 

1897-98 

24,656 

41,364 

10,242 

76,279 

42,130 

.34,140 

1898-99 

21,319 

40,787 

5,679 

67,791 

.35,466 

38.654 

1899-1900 

29,607 

60,888 

7,843 

98,3.38 

46,286 

49,543 

1900-01 

25,374 

54,974 

8,377 

88.725 

31.988 

55,422 

1901-02 

21.323 

48.538 

8,774 

78,635 

31,873 

43.650 

1902-03 

27.686 

62,451 

12.497 

102,6.34 

54,082 

S0..524 

190.3-04 

28,005 

.39,1,55 

9,.549 

76,709 

.31,320 

43,578 

1904-05 

37,873 

49,696 

12,094 

99,663 

38,402 

62,  DO  6 

1905-06 

.30,378 

72,872 

1.3,712 

116,962 

39,262 

78,923 

1906-07 

23,411 

24,653 

8,044 

56,108 

20,489 

.36,101 

1907-08 

28,935 

44,71.3 

1.3,247 

86,895 

32,383 

46,718 

306 


TABLES  OF  STATISTICS 


TABLE  16 

NUMBER  OF  COTTON  IVIILLS,  SPINDLES,  BALES 
CONSUMED  AND  STOCKS  IN  EACH  STATE, 
1906-1907 


(U.  S.  Censhs  Bureau) 


State 

Year 

Num- 
ber of 
Mills 

Number  of 
Active 
Spindles 

Spindles 
Vsing  Cot- 
ton wth 
other  fibre>^ 

Cotton 
taken  for 
Consump- 
tion 

Cotton 

Consumed 

MiU 
Stocks 
August  31 

Average 
Gross 
Weight 
of  bales 

Alabama 

1907 

74 

876.944. 

247.476 

239,149 

29.946 

500  7 

1906 

68 

851,986 

235,163 

244,058 

21,619 

498.3 

1907 

7 

12  972 

4 762 

4 411 

825 

498  9 

1906 

11 

13.180 

4,207 

3,946 

474 

495.9 

1907 

15 

12,284 

18  219 

15,997 

3 590 

512,9 

1906 

1 368 

Connecticut 

1907 

86 

1,215,435 

52,630 

15.8,403 

147,450 

49,060 

513.9 

1906 

86 

1.174,527 

150,844 

148,692 

38,107 

500.7 

Georgia 

1907 

149 

1,610,004 

14,060 

545.385 

521.777 

62,400 

484.5 

1906 

138 

1,.546,998 

510,329 

513,814 

38,792 

483.7 

Illinois 

1907 

37 

31,488 

4,646 

14,264 

13,412 

1,575 

511.1 

1906 

34 

31,488 

11,766 

12,154 

723 

497.5 

Indiana 

1907 

21 

122,568 

11,904 

29,675 

27,7.54 

4,445 

512.2 

1906 

19 

126,688 

27,202 

28,.389 

2,524 

512.9 

Kentucky 

1907 

16 

82,764 

14,164 

27,001 

25,785 

5,220 

516.2 

1906 

14 

82,692 

27,264 

27,970 

4,004 

510.0 

Louisiana 

1907 

14 

68  724 

17  404 

17.050 

799 

501.1 

1906 

12 

92,700 

17,609 

17,578 

445 

495.4 

Maino  . . 

1907 

35 

966,864 

40,853 

166,456 

157,152 

37,616 

519.9 

1906 

34 

912,593 

160,598 

163,297 

28,312 

517.7 

Maryland 

1907 

16 

142,384 

9,000 

65,960 

64,998 

4,445 

493.9 

1906 

14 

134,112 

59,763 

60,223 

3.483 

498.0 

Massachusetts 

1907 

204 

9,097,236 

70,462 

1,365,628 

1,253.856 

367,098 

513.4 

1906 

210 

8,790,793 

1,235,689 

1,234,182 

255,326 

508.1 

Mississippi 

1907 

26 

162,696 

8,404 

38,854 

37,929 

3,491 

494.0 

1906 

26 

147,474 

38,184 

40.197 

2,566 

497.0 

Missouri 

1907 

39 

14,416 

312 

10,125 

9,491 

1,168 

512.1 

1906 

26 

14,016 

6,746 

7,146 

534 

480.4 

New  Hamn.«5birp 

1907 

44 

1,307,357 

50,520 

306,783 

277,941 

82,696 

515.3 

1906 

46 

1,296,445 

267,292 

283,853 

54,124 

513.2 

New  Jersey 

1907 

2S 

425,791 

14.463 

46,845 

48,294 

9,217 

513.5 

1906 

27 

417,679 

55,316 

54,597 

10,666 

473.8 

New  l ork 

1907 

128 

900,506 

110,862 

206,843 

191,884 

37.797 

.508.5 

1906 

112 

802,254 

170,258 

176.739 

22,838 

506.5 

North  Carolina. 

1907 

276 

2,6ai.444 

6,556 

7.50,400 

710,275 

84,542 

482.1 

1906 

251 

2,341,792 

669,633 

675.332 

44,417 

477.4 

Ohio 

1907 

31 

19,427 

23.744 

24,533 

8,564 

.517.1 

1906 

29 

21,772 

21,682 

9.353 

506.8 

PenIls^■Ivania  . 

1907 

132 

263.205 

137,190 

89,476 

86,825 

12,933 

511.2 

1906 

124 

288,143 

80,814 

86,564 

10.282 

505.4 

Rhode  Island . . . 

1907 

74 

2.218,905 

12,556 

245,266 

223.0a5 

76,250 

521.5 

1906 

76 

2.1.30,958 

213,342 

217,118 

54,019 

510.4 

1907 

145 

3 502  036 

709,728 

668.883 

96.487 

485.2 

1906 

141 

3 345  075 

. . 645.546 

674.588 

55.642 

481.9 

Tennessee 

1907 

35 

■230;358 

23,482 

65,185 

62.522 

10,508 

480.6 

1906 

37 

212.062 

56,944 

58,244 

7.845 

502.1 

Texas 

1907 

52 

103  992 

41  923 

38,602 

5.443 

509.8 

1906 

52 

93;687 

39,848 

40,023 

2,122 

515.7 

1 ermont 

1907 

15 

106,720 

24,032 

17,049 

13,921 

4,470 

509.4 

1906 

15 

102,264 

12,788 

12,758 

1,342 

512.9 

1 irginia 

1907 

29 

2,50,7.58 

4,738 

72,470 

68,668 

9.085 

493.6 

1906 

33 

253,206 

65,868 

68,919 

5.283 

500.6 

All  other  States 

1907 

92 

44,340 

20,890 

35,879 

33,342 

6,798 

504.9 

1906 

97 

47  284 

36.205 

37,416 

4,261 

505.7 

United  States 

1907 

1.830 

26,375,191 

651,251 

5.321,203 

4,984,936 

1,016,738 

500.3 

1906 

1.732 

25,250,096 

4,820,990 

4,909,479 

680.471 

496.6 

1 Not  shorni  separately  for  1906. 


KING  COTTON 


307 


TABLE  17 

COST  OF  PICKING  COTTON 

The  following  table  shows  the  average  price  paid  for 

PICKING  COTTON  PER  100  POUNDS  IN  EACH  STATE  AND  TER- 
RITORY, AND  THE  TOTAL  COST  OF  PICKING  THE  UPLAND  AND 
SEA-ISLAND  COTTON  CROPS  FROM  1899-1900  TO  1903-04, 
INCLUSIVE,  AS  ASCERTAINED  BY  THE  U.  S.  DEPARTMENT  OF 
AGRICULTURE. 


State 

Price  per  100  pounds 

Total  Cost 

1899- 

1900 

1900- 

1901 

1901- 

1902 

1902- 

1903 

1903- 

1904 

1899-1900 

1900-1901 

1901-1902 

1902-1903 

1903-1904 

Cents 

Cents 

Cents 

Cents 

Cents 

Alabama 

36 

43 

41 

42 

48 

85,189.828 

•86,432.718 

$6,566,679 

$5,889,975 

•S6,799„358 

Arkansas 

43 

56 

50 

53 

58 

4,101,658 

6,870,231 

5.804,417 

7,822.629 

^6,446,329 

Florida 

46 

51 

45 

50 

59 

78,569 

179,387 

183,171 

239,507 

160,515 

Geora:ia 

38 

42 

40 

41 

46 

6,810,782 

7.250,687 

8,535,494 

7,651,867 

i 8,163,552 

Indian  Ty 

51 

71 

66 

63 

75 

908,356 

2,351,350 

2,596,789 

3,305,687 

3,106,845 

71 

66 

63 

1.242 

1.332 

487 

3o2 

50 

53 

1 081 

550 

8,127 

7 376 

Louisiana 

40 

53 

53 

54 

63 

4,062.556 

5,557,856 

6,750,259 

7,054,354 

i 7,547,728 

Mississippi 

39 

45 

45 

47 

56 

6,816,533 

7,167,100 

9,068,678 

9,987,759 

11,628,977 

Missouri 

50 

58 

59 

58 

68 

123,085 

224,176 

211,727 

291,533 

415,405 

North  Carolina. . . 

36 

43 

41 

42 

49 

2,5.30,210 

3,230,448 

3,245,403 

3,689,721 

T 3,832,952 

Oklahoma 

58 

/D 

60 

73 

88 

573,237 

1,382,618 

1,258,483 

1,917‘,936 

2,141,920 

South  Carolina . . . 

38 

40 

39 

40 

45 

4.380,800 

4,056,740 

4,415,285 

5,112,312 

5,120,199 

Tennessee 

46 

51 

50 

53 

55 

1,260,285 

1,506,673 

1,400,614 

2,473,501 

2,050,983 

Texas 

44 

66 

55 

54 

65 

15,933,518 

35,332,790 

21,821,089 

19,632,708 

124,329,695 

Virginia 

37 

37 

38 

37 

49 

42,128 

64,125 

73,508 

73,986 

88,063 

Total  Upland 

40.5 

54 

47.4 

48 

.56.9 

852.811,572 

881,609,222 

$71,933,578 

$75,151,089 

$81,840,249 

Total  Sea-island. . 

(d) 

925,611 

917,413 

1,212,364 

1,715,556 

United  States ] 

852,811.572 

$82,534,833 

$72,850,991 

$76,363,453 

$83,555,805 

(a)  Included  in  value  of  upland. 


308  TABLES  OF  STATISTICS 

TABLE  18 

• DATES  OF  EARLIEST  KILLING  FROSTS  IN  THE 
COTTON  STATES 


(U.  S.  Weather  Bureau  Reports) 


State 

Locality 

1906-07 

1905-06 

190-1-05 

1903-04 

1903-02 

North  Carolina 

Charlotte 

Oct.  12 

Nov.  11 

Nov.  15 

Nov.  27 

Nov.  28 

**  “ ^ 

Oct.  11 

Nov.  12 

Nov.  28 
Nov.  28 
Nov.  28 

<4  44 

Oct.  12 

Nov.  28 

4 4 4 4 

Oct.  12 

Nov.  12 

Oct.  27 

Nov.  16 

Dec.  13 

Nov.  28 
Nov  28 

Nov.  15 

Oct.  11 

Oct.  22 

Nov.  28 

Oct.  29 

Nov.  12 

" 

Nov.  28 

Dec.  27 

Nov.  23 

Nov.  27 

Nov.  28 

“ 

Oct.  11 

Oct.  22 

Oct.  28 
Nov.  28 

Nov.  28 

Florida 

Dec.  27 

Dec.  23 

Dec.  18 

Nov.  27 
Nov.  28 

Dec.  27 

Oct.  29 

Nov.  23 

Nov.  14 

Nov.  28 

“ 

Nov.  13 

Nov.  30 

Nov.  27 

Mississippi 

Oct.  11 

Nov.  19 

Nov.  28 

Louisiana 

Dec.  27 

Texas 

Jan.  26 
Nov.  19 

None 

Dec.  3 

Nov.  11 
Nov.  12 
Nov.  11 
Nov.  13 

Nov.  20 

Nov  29 

Arkansas 

Nov.  22 

Dec.  5 

“ 

Oct.  31 

Nov.  29 
Nov.  30 
Oct.  22 

Nov.  27 

Tennessee. . . 

Nov.  27 

“ 

Oct.  11 

Oct.  25 

Dec.  6 

Chattanooga 

Oct.  11 

Nov.  12 

. ov.  15 

Oct.  28 

Nov.  27 

TABLE  19 

THE  NUMBER  OF  COTTON  SPINDLES  IN  THE 

WORLD 


Country 

1908 

1907 

1906 

1905 

1904 

1903 

Great  Britain 

54,600,000 

52.000,000 

50,000,000 

48,500,000 

47,500,000 

47,200,000 

Continent 

36,800,000 

35,800,000 

35,500,000 

35,000,000 

34,600.000 

.34,300,000 

Total  Europe 

United  States. 

91,400,000 

87,800,000 

85,500,000 

83,500,000 

82,100,000 

81,500,000 

United  States,  North.. 

16,300,000 

16,000,000 

15,600.000 

15,325,000 

15,250,000 

15,200,000 

United  States  South. . 

10,451,919 

9,924,245 

9,181.207 

8,747,810 

7,963,866 

7,039,633 

Total  United  States.. 

26,751,919 

25,924.245 

24,781,207 

24.072,810 

23,213,866 

22,239,633 

East  Indies 

5,400,000 

5,333,275 

5,293,834 

5,163,486 

5,118,121 

5,043,297 

Japan 

1,500,000 

1,483,497 

1,450,949 

1,387,846 

1,349,074 

1,379,966 

China 

670,000 

650,000 

625,000 

619,648 

610,000 

600,000 

Total  India,  etc 

7,570,000 

7,466,772 

7,275,949 

7,170,980 

7,077,195 

7,023,263 

Canada 

820,000 

800,000 

775,000 

750,000 

716,000 

700,000 

Mexico 

740,000 

700,000 

675,000 

675,000 

6.50,000 

610,000 

Total  other 

1,560,000 

1,500,000 

1,4,50,000 

1,425,000 

1,366,000 

1,310,000 

Total  World 

127.281,919 

122,691,017 

119.007,156 

116,168,790 

113,7.57,061 

112,072,896 

World’s  Consumption..  . 
World’s  Weeklv  Con- 

15,999,000 

16,931,898 

16,.385,228 

15,541,667 

14,310,158 

14,477,694 

sumption 

307,673 

.325,613 

315,101 

298,878 

298,878 

278,416 

INDEX. 


PAGE 

Aberdeen,  Miss.,  Cotton  shipped  from,  by  steamboats  175 

Acreage,  Planted  in  cotton  in  each  State  ’....288 

Protest  against  Agricultural  Department’s  estimate  93,  122,  159 

Planters’  Convention  to  reduce  118,  119,  183,  184,  227,  264 

Africa,  Texas  cotton  seed  shipped  to 226 

Alabama,  Cotton  culture  first  introduced  11,  135 

Commercial  cotton  crops  of,  1807-1908  (see  tables)  138  to  158 

Domestic  consumption  of  cotton  (see  tables)  144  to  158 

Number  of  cotton  mills  and  spindles  (see  tables)  144  to  158 

First  cotton  mills  in  142,  143 

First  railroad  built  in  142 

Acreage  planted  in  cotton  137,  288 

Production  of  cotton  in  Tennessee  Valley  140,  143 

Cotton  area  and  production  compared  137,  138 

Cotton  oil  mills  in  142,  158,  159 

Yield  of  cotton  in  144,  147,  148,  149,  157 

Cost  of  cotton  production  in  157 

Number  of  cotton  planters  in  157 

Anson  Creams,  Superiority  of  64,  65 

Anthracnose,  Destruction  of  cotton  by  121 

Apalachicola,  Cotton  receipts  and  exports  from  127 

Arkansas,  Cotton  culture  first  introduced  11,  239 

Commercial  cotton  crops  of,  1823-1908  (see  tables)  241  to  250 

Domestic  consumption  of  cotton  (see  tables)  243  to  250 

Number  of  cotton  mills  and  spindles  (see  tables)  243  to  250 

Counties  producing  cotton  242 

Acreage  planted  in  cotton  241,  288 

Cotton  area  and  production  compared  241 

.Highest  yield  in  the  United  States  248 

Cost  of  cotton  production  249 

Number  of  planters  in  249 

Atlanta,  Cotton  Exposition  held  at  116 

Augusta,  Cotton  shipments  from,  in  1827  102 

Cotton  consumed  by  mills  at  120,  121 

Austin’s  Colony  in  Texas  212 

Bagging,  Use  of  cotton  77,  101,  141,  186,  256 

Use  of  Kentucky  98,  141 

Pool  to  control  the  price  of  247 


309 


310 


INDEX 


PAGE 

Bahama  Islands,  Planters  from,  settle  in  Florida  125 

Bales,  First  new,  in  various  States, 

105,  121,  122,  159,  186,  197,  223,  225,  226,  228,  233,  234,  235,  236 

Extraordinary  age  of  cotton  88,  184 

Standard  defined  91,  121,  233 

Bad  condition  of  207,  229 

High  price  paid  for 179,  181,  221 

Blooms,  Early  cotton  215,  217 

Boyd’s  prolific  cotton.  Origin  of  173 

Bucket-Shops,  Legislation  to  suppress  230 

Burleson,  A.  S.,  Estimate  of  damage  by  boll-weevils  235 

Burton,  R.  P.,  Extraordinary  cotton  plant  grown  by  105 

Canals  in  cotton  States  73,  142,  143 

Capital  invested  in  cotton  mills  68,  92 


Cargo,  Steamships  and  steamboats  carrying  largest  cotton, 

205,  207,  209,  232,  235- 

Caterpillar,  Damage  to  cotton  by  ..N.  C.,  60,  62;  S.  C.,  70,  76,  80,  85,  86; 
Ga.,  101,  106,  113 ; Fla.,  126,  127,  128,  131 ; Ala.,  140,  146,  151,  152 ; 
Miss.,  175,  178,  179;  La.,  191,  192,  196,  197,  202,  203;  Tex.,  216, 


220;  Ark.,  242,  243,  244,  246. 

Centennial  Cotton  Exposition  at  New  Orleans  205 

Charleston,  First  cotton  exports  from  72 

Price  of  cotton  at  73,  75,  76 

Circular,  Famous  cotton  and  origin  of  103,  104 

Classification  of  cotton  grades  115,  203 

Cloth,  Cost  of  making  in  South  Carolina  in  1850  82 

Clothes,  Proportion  of  people  wearing  10,  36 

Colbert,  George,  Indian  planter  in  Mississippi  164 

Condition  of  crops,  monthly  report  of  Department  of  Agriculture.  .289,  294 

Compresses,  cotton.  Early  use  of  106,  148,  194 

Confederate  Government,  Cotton  exports  prohibited  by 50,  51,  111 

Convention  of  cotton  planters, 

62,  103,  108,  109,  118,  145,  183,  199,  210,  211 

Convention  of  Cotton  Exchanges  206 

Corn,  imported  into  cotton  States 79,  168 


Cost  of  cotton  production  . .Va.,  53;  N.  C.,  65,  67;  S.  C.,  80,  91;  Ga.,  115, 
119;  Fla.,  129,  133;  Ala.,  156,  157;  Miss.,  184;  La.,  207;  Tex.,  229; 
Ark.,  242,  249;  Tenn.,  265;  Mo.,  272;  Okla.,  278. 

Ginning  and  baling  cotton, 

66,  91,  120,  133,  157,  185,  208,  231,  250,  266,  272,  280 


Of  marketing  143,  147,  174,  197 

Cotton,  first  introduced  in  United  States  10,  43 

Found  growing  wild  in  Florida 10 

Production  of  in  United  States  29,  30,  31 


INDEX 


311 


PAGE 

Cotton,  Consumption  of  in  world  300 

Production  and  value  of  since  1790  299 

Exports  from  U.  S.  to  foreign  countries  297 

Early  manufacture  of  74 

Destruction  of  required  by  Confederate  Government  50 

Federal  tax  on, 

51,  61,  85,  112,  113,  130,  151,  177,  201,  220,  244,  261,  270 

Federal  tax.  Bill  to  refund  115,  156,  203,  262 

Acreage,  Plans  to  reduce  118,  119,  183,  184,  264 

Effects  of  planting  in  Mississippi  179 

Cultivation,  Methods  of  79,  156,  174,  178 

Ginned  to  specified  dates  302,  303 

World’s  visible  supply  (1903-1908)  301 

Visible  supph"  each  week  of  American  304 

Is  king.  Origin  of  phrase  84 

Blankets  made  by  Indians  10 

Exchanges  organized, 

51,  62,  63,  89,  92,  114,  116,  152,  155,  182,  183,  203,  228,  231,  246,  262 

Scarcity  of  in  1903  67,  93,  122,  159,  186,  209,  235,  250,  267 

]\Iills,  Number  of,  in  United  States  306 

Consumption  in  the  United  States  29,  30,  31,  299,  306 

Proportion  of  crop  consumed  in  Southern  States  299 

Consumption  in  world  (1890-1908)  300 

Creole  cotton  planters  in  Louisiana  193 

Cultivators,  Cotton  (machines)  109,  175 


Darcy,  J.  E.,  on  efficiency  of  Italian  labor  251 

Darien,  Ga.,  Exports  of  cotton  from,  1827  101 

Decadence  of  Sea-Island  cotton  industry  90 

Delinting  cotton  machines  260,  261 

Dickson,  W.  C.,  Variety  originated  by,  and  yield  of 109,  111,  113 

Donald,  John  T.,  Account  of  cotton  picking  in  Georgia  99 


Drought,  Cotton  crops  injured  by  . .N.  C.,  59,  64;  S.  C.,  80.  82;  Ga.,  108; 
Ala.,  141,  14.3,  145;  Miss.,  168,  171,  180;  La.,  192;  Tex.,  227,  236; 


Ark.,  247 ; Tenn.,  256,  257. 

Du  Bignon,  Remarkable  sale  of  cotton  by  112 

Earle,  J.  W.,  on  effects  of  phosphate  discoveries  91 

Early  cotton  crop  in  South  Carolina  and  Georgia  80 

Eg>'ptian  cotton.  Experiments  with  93,  156 

Ellerbee,  Congressman,  Resolution  on  cotton  acreage 93 

Elliott,  William,  on  cultivation  of  Sea-Island  cotton  76,  84 

English  spinners  investigating  cotton  lands  187 

Eve's  cotton  gin  introduced  76,  96 


312 


INDEX 


PAGE 

Exports  of  cotton  to  foreign  countries  297 

Exports  of  cotton  from  each  port  (U.  S.)  298 

Eailure  of  cotton  merchants  102,  196 

Eertilizer,  Eirst  use  of  commercial,  in  Georgia  107,  113 

Consumption  of,  in  cotton  States  297 

Cotton  seed  valuable  for  80,  147 

Effects  of  use  of  71,  72,  89,  91,  114,  144,  202 

Formula  recommended  132,  249 

As  a preventative  of  boll-weevil  236 

Fire,  Cotton  destroyed  by  206,  263 

Floods,  Destruction  of  crops  by  ..S  C.,  93;  Miss.,  172,  176,  180,  181,  183, 

184;  La.,  192,  197,  207;  Tex.,  216,  218,  232;  Ark.,  245,  249;  Tenn.,  265 

Florida,  Cotton  culture  first  introduced  11,  124 

Commercial  cotton  crops  of,  1820-1908  (see  tables)  125  to  133 

Domestic  consumption  of  cotton  (see  tables)  129  to  131 

Counties  producing  cotton  127 

Phosphate  deposits  opened  132 

Acreage  and  yield  per  acre  133,  288 

Cost  of  cotton  production  133 

Cotton  shipped  from. towns  in  134 

Sea-Island  cotton  crops  133,  305 

Freight,  Railway  rates  on  cotton  79,  146,  173 

Steamship  rates  from  New  Orleans  195 

French  Government,  Scheme  to  buy  cotton  150 

Frost,  Damage  to  crops  by  . . .Va.,  49;  N.  C.,  60;  S.  C.,  81;  Ga.,  107,  109; 
Fla.,  129;  Ala.,  147;  Miss.,  173;  La.,  197;  Tenn.,  257,  258;  Mo.,  269 

Dates  of  first  killing  308 

Futures,  Legislation  against  dealing  in  cotton.. N.  C.,  67;  S.  C.,  93;  Ga., 
123;  Ala.,  159;  Miss.,  187;  La.,  206;  Tex.,  237;  Ark.,  251. 

Georgia,  Cotton  culture  first  introduced  11,  94,  95 

Commercial  cotton  crops  of,  1800-1908  (see  tables)  98  to  121 

Domestic  consumption  of  cotton  (see  tables)  105  to  121 

Number  of  cotton  mills  and  spindles  (see  tables)  105  to  121 

First  varieties  of  cotton  planted  95,  96,  98 

First  cotton  mills  in  98,  99,  101,  103 

First  railroad  in  103 

Acreage  planted  in  cotton  97,  288 

Counties  producing  cotton  in  1839  104 

Average  yield  of  cotton  115 

Cotton  area  and  production  compared  97 

Cost  of  cotton  production  119 

Number  of  planters  in  120 

Sea-Island  cotton  crops  120,  305 


INDEX 


313 


PAGE 

Germans,  Excellence  of  cotton  grown  b3%  in  Texas  219 

Gin  house  on  plantation,  importance  of  Ill 

Ginners  in  Texas  organized  230 

Gins,  Style  of,  first  used  11,  46,  83,  96,  135,  160,  166,  174,  189,  190 

Invention  of  Whitne}'’s  12,  96,  103 

In  various  States  . .Va.,  53;  N.  C.,  66,  68;  S.  C.,  91,  93;  Ga.,  120,  123; 
Fla.,  133,  134;  Ala.,  140,  157,  159;  Miss.,  185,  187;  La.,  208,  211; 
Tex.,  231,  237;  Ark.,  250,  251;  Tenn.,  266,  267;  Mo.,  272,  273; 
Okla.,  280,  281. 

For  cleaning  Sea-Island  cotton  76,  78,  83,  102,  128 

Few  in  Texas  run  by  horse-power  234 

Ginning  and  baling.  Cost  of,  in  different  States, 

66,  91,  120,  133,  157,  185,  208,  231,  250,  266,  272,  280 

Toll  charge  for  77,  139,  166 

Changes  in  character  of  185 

Grades,  Convention  to  establish  cotton  115 

Groce,  Col.  Jared  E.,  first  planter  in  Texas  212 

Gregg,  William,  promoter  of  cotton  manufacturing  80,  81 

Guyner,  l\Iiss  Hattie,  remarkable  as  a cotton  picker  233 

Habersham,  James,  one  of  first  Georgia  planters  95 

Hamilton,  Gen’l,  on  cost  of  cotton  production  80 

Hammond,  Senator,  originator  of  “Cotton  Is  King”  84 

Hammond,  M.  C.,  on  cotton  yield  in  South  Carolina  85 

Hammond,  Harrj',  on  intensive  system  in  planting 89 

Hampton,  Gen’l  Wade,  Large  plantation  of  191 

Hardaway,  R.  H.,  on  cost  of  cotton  production  114,  115 

Hawkins,  Hiram,  on  cost  of  cotton  production  156 

Hinson,  W.  G.,  seed  improved  b\'  selection  92 

Hogan  variety.  Yield  of,  in  Texas  218 

Holrnes,  Ogden,  first  to  use  saws  in  gins  97 

Hudson,  J.  M.,  on  condition  of  planters  in  Arkansas  248 

Hulling  cotton  seed,  Alachines  for  74,  78,  102 

Illuminating  oil.  First,  from  cotton  seed  57 

Indians  as  cotton  planters  136,  167,  168 

Intensive  system  in  cotton  culture  72,  89 

Irby,  Dr.  W.  C.,  Long  staple  cotton  grown  by  93 

Iron  ties.  First  use  of  146,  172 

Italians,  Value  of,  in  cotton  fields  250,  251 

Jackson,  Gen’l  Andrew,  as  a cotton  planter  137,  139 

Kentucky,  acreage  planted  in  cotton  288 

Bagging,  Early  use  of 98,  141 

King  Cotton,  Origin  of  phrase  84 


314 


INDEX 


PAGE 

Labor,  Production  of  each  held  hand  78,  122,  174,  217 

Wages  of,  on  farms  in  Louisiana  197 

Negro,  Value  of,  in  1836  78 

Foreign  labor  in  cotton  fields  186,  250,  251 

Proportion  of  cotton  made  by  white  207 

White  and  negro  labor  202,  206,  207,  222 

Negro,  before  and  since  the  Civil  War  183 

Land  sales  in  cotton  States  128,  139,  142,  144,  162,  169,  196 

Renovating  worn  out  112,  167 

Lawton,  William  M.,  first  to  use  improved  gin  83 

Leake,  Richard,  one  of  first  Georgia  planters  96 

Lee,  Gen’l  Stephen  D.,  on  condition  of  planters 183 

Lien  on  cotton  crops  115 

Lice,  Injury  to  cotton  by 65,  90,  117,  131,  155,  248 

Liverpool,  prices  of  cotton,  1790-1908  (see  table)  29,  30,  31 

Receipt  of  cotton,  1863  85 

Long  staple  variety  of  cotton  93,  119,  120,  186 

Louisiana,  Cotton  culture  first  introduced  11,  188 

Commercial  cotton  crops,  1800-1908  (see  tables)  190  to  209 

Domestic  consumption  of  cotton  (see  tables)  198  to  209 

Number  of  cotton  mills  and  spindles  (see  tables)  198  to  209 

Acreage  planted  in  cotton  189,  288 

Spanish  and  Creole  planters  in  191,  193 

Cotton  yield  per  acre  190,  198,  199,  202,  204 

First  railroad  in  194 

Varieties  of  cotton  in  191,  193,  208 

Parishes  producing  cotton,  1839  195 

Area  and  production  of  cotton  compared  189 

Condition  of  cotton  planters  in  207 

Cost  of  cotton  production  207 

Number  of  planters  in  208 

First  appearance  of  boll-weevil  209 

McCarthy’s  Sea-Island  cotton  gin  83,  128 

McDonald  on  varieties  of  cotton  in  South  Carolina  74 

Madison  County,  Alabama,  cotton  crop  of  1821  140 

Manufactures,  Household,  in  cotton  States  44,  256 

Marketing  cotton.  Cost  of  143,  147,  174,  197 

Inland  routes  for  cotton,  1851  259 

Mastodon  variety.  Origin  of 195,  196 

Matthews,  John  R.,  first  to  use  cotton  planter  76 

Memphis,  Receipts  and  prices  of  cotton  at  256,  257,  259,  266,  267 

Mexican  cotton  seed.  Origin  and  use  of, 

75,  78,  126,  162,  164,  170,  172,  191,  193,  196,  243 


INDEX 


315 


PAGE 

]\Iills,  cotton,  First  in  various  States  . . . .Va.,  47;  N.  C,  56;  S.  C.,  71,  73, 
74,  77 ; Ga.,  98,  99,  101 ; Fla.,  128 ; Ala.,  142 ; Miss.,  169,  172 ; Tex., 
219 ; Ark.,  242 ; Tenn.,  255 ; Okla.,  281. 

Advantage  of,  to  planters  90 

Capital  invested  in  N.  C.,  68;  S.  C.,  92 

Operated  bj"  negro  labor  67,  81,  82,  11)6,  128,  169,  172,  256,  259 

Number  of,  in  the  United  States  306 

Stocks  at,  in  United  States  306 

Mississippi,  Cotton  culture  first  introduced 11,  160 

Commercial  cotton  crops  of,  1800-1908  (see  tables)  163  to  185 

Domestic  consumption  of  cotton  (see  tables)  174  to  185 

Number  of  cotton  mills  and  spindles  (see  tables)  174  to  185 

Early  cotton  exports  from  164,  170 

Varieties  of  cotton  planted  in  164,  165,  170,  173,  174 

First  steamboats  on  Mississippi  river  166,  168 

Acreage  planted  in  cotton  163,  288 

Counties  producing  cotton  in  1839  171 

Method  of  cotton  culture,  1850  174 

Production  and  yield  of  cotton  168,  173,  184 

Government’s  method  of  renting  land  in  177 

Acreage  and  production  compared  163 

Cost  of  cotton  production  184 

Number  of  planters  in  184 

First  appearance  of  boll-weevil  186 

Missouri,  Cotton  culture  first  introduced  11,  268 

Commercial  cotton  crops  of,  1824-1908  (see  tables)  269  to  273 

Domestic  consumption  of  cotton  (see  tables)  271  to  273 

Number  of  cotton  mills  and  spindles  (see  tables)  271  to  273 

Acreage  planted  in  cotton  288 

Cost  of  cotton  production  272 

Cotton  area  and  production  269 

Number  of  planters  in  272 

Mobile,  Receipts  and  prices  of  cotton  at  ..139,  140,  142,  143,  145,  146,  151 

Montgomery,  Receipts  of  cotton  at  159 

Moravian  cotton  planters  in  North  Carolina  55 

Mordecai,  Abram,  first  ginner  in  Alabama 136 

Morrow,  Charles  E.,  on  Memphis  as  a cotton  market  265 

Nankeen  variety  of  cotton  .- 75,  100,  172 

Nashville,  Shipments  of  cotton  from  ....255,  256 

Negro  labor,  in  cotton  mills  67,  81,  82,  106,  128,  169,  172,  256,  259 

Value  of,  since  the  Civil  War 183 

Opposition  to  it  in  Oklahoma  281 

New  Orleans,  Prices  of  cotton  at  ....190,  192,  196,  197,  198,  201,  203,  210 
New  York,  Prices  of  cotton  at,  1790  to  1908  (see  tables)  29,  30,  31 


316 


INDEX 


PAGE 

North  Carolina,  Cotton  culture  first  introduced  11,  54 

First  cotton  exports  from  55,  57,  59 

First  cotton  mills  in  56,  57,  58 

Early  planting  in  56 

Commercial  cotton  crops  of,  1800-1908  (see  tables)  56  to  66 

Domestic  consumption  of  cotton  (see  tables)  59  to  66 

Number  of  cotton  mills  and  spindles  (see  tables)  59  to  66 

Counties  producing  cotton  58,  59 

Acreage  planted  in  cotton  55,  288 

Cost  of  cotton  production  65 

Cotton  area  and  production  compared  55 

Consumption  of  cotton  in  counties  66 

Capital  invested  in  cotton  mills  68 

Number  of  planters  in  66 

Nutt,  Dr.  Rush,  first  to  use  steam  in  ginning 169 

Oil,  First  discovery  of  cotton  140,  163,  194,  199 


Cotton  (oil)  mills  and  machines  Va.,  47;  N.  C.,  58,  65,  67,  68; 

S.  C.,  77,  92,  93;  Ga.,  117,  120,  123;  Ala.,  142,  153,  159;  Miss.,  170, 
180,  181,  185,  187;  La.,  199,  204,  205,  209,  211;  Tex.,  233,  237; 
Ark.,  250,  251;  Tenn.,  260,  262,  267;  Mo.,  270,  271,  273;  Okla.,  281. 


Oklahoma,  Cotton  culture  first  introduced  11,  274 

Cotton  area  and  production  of,  1879-1880  277,  280,  288 

Lands  opened  to  settlement  in  278,  281 

Hauling  cotton  to  market  276 

Cost  of  cotton  production  in  278,  279 

First  cotton  mill  in  281 

Number  of  planters  in  279 

Opelousas  district.  Cotton  planting  in  190 

Ouachita  district.  Cotton  planting  in  190 

Overseers,  wages  on  plantations,  1848  107 


Peeler  cotton.  Origin  of  variety 177 

Pensacola,  Importance  of,  in  cotton  exports  134 

Peterkin  cotton,  origin  of  variety 86 

Petit-gulf  variety  75,  81,  146,  165,  170,  192,  218,  243 

Phosphasets,  Discovert'  and  value  of  71,  85,  91,  132 

Pickers  of  cotton.  Great  demand  for  233 

Pounds'  gathered  per  day  by,  13,  72,  99,  145,  163,  178,  194,  233,  242,  280 
Picking  cotton.  Machines  for,  63,  65,  90,  149,  154,  155,  175,  180,  182,  185 
204,  209,  221,  225,  230,  234,  245,  246,  250,  259,  272. 

Cost  of  (1899-1904)  307 

Plan  to  encourage  picking  147 

Planters,  Condition  of.  in  various  States  183,  207,  228,  248 


INDEX 


317 


PAGE 

Planters,  number  of,  in  various  States, 

53,  66,  91,  120,  157,  184,  208,  231,  249,  266,  272,  279 

Large  cotton  crops  made  by  176,  186,  191,  199 

Employed  by  East  Indian  Government  171 

Planting  cotton.  Machines  for  76,  257,  260 

Plows,  Use  of,  in  cotton  culture  79,  172 

Presses  for  making  bales  of  cotton  45,  163 

Ports,  Exports  of  cotton  from  United  States  298 

Stocks  of  cotton  at  United  States  305 

Pratt,  Daniel,  Gins  made  by,  in  Alabama  142 

Prices  of  cotton  in  various  States, 

56,  57,  101,  102,  112,  120,  139,  144,  214,  256 

At  New  York  and  Liverpool  (see  tables)  29,  30,  31 

Effort  to  control  67,  103,  104,  108,  251 

Pool  in  New  Orleans  to  advance  210 

Production  of  cotton  in  the  L'nited  States  29,  30,  31 

In  the  world  300 

Per  hand  78,  91,  122,  179,  242 

Cost  of,  in  various  States  ..Va.,  53;  N.  C.,  65,  66;  S.  C.,  91;  Ga.,  119; 
Fla.,  129,  133;  Ala.,  156,  157;  Miss.,  184;  La.,  207;  Tex.,  229;  Ark., 
243,  249 ; Tenn.,  265 ; Mo.,  272 ; Okla.,  279. 

Public  gins,  first  introduced  in  Mississippi  165 

Railroads,  First,  in  cotton  States  48,  58,  78,  102,  142,  170,  194 

Freight  rates  on  cotton  79,  146,  173 

Importance  of,  in  cotton  production  4,  16,  32 

iVIileage  in  various  States, 

53,  66,  91,  118,  133,  157,  185,  208,  232,  249,  266,  280 
Rainfall,  Damage  to  crops  by  excessive  ..60,  80,  106,  144,  146,  152,  159, 
169,  172,  179,  180,  181,  186,  192,  203,  204,  210,  231,  251 

Average  in  each  cotton  State  295,  296 

Redding,  R.  J.,  report  on  cotton  varieties  in  Georgia 119 

River  landing  in  old  times.  Description  of 109,  110 

Roper,  R.  W.,  Report  on  cotton  in  South  Carolina  79 

Rot  disease,  injury  to  cotton  crops  141,  166,  193 

Rust  in  cotton.  First  appearance  of,  in  Georgia  102 

Sale  of  cotton,  in  Memphis,  Unusual  267 

Savannah,  Early  exports  of  cotton  from  100,  101,  112 

Sea-Island  cotton.  Origin  of  95 

Cultivation  of  51,  84,  102 

Varieties  cultivated  in  South  Carolina  76,  77 

First  separate  grading  of  74 

Yield  of,  in  several  States  305 


318 


INDEX 


PAGE 

Sea-Island  Cotton,  Decadence  ci  Industry  in  South  Carolina  90 

Land  cultivated  in,  per  hand  78,  80 

Gins  used  for  cleaning  76,  78,  83,  102,  128 

High  prices  paid  for  73,  75,  76,  77 

Effect  of  sewing  machine  in  production  of 123 

Seabrook,  William,  first  to  use  improved  gin 83 

Share-system  in  cotton  planting  85 

Sheffield,  Capt.,  first  to  carry  cargo  of  export  cotton 72,  127 

Sheeting,  Cost  of  making,  in  1850  82 

Shedding  cotton,  excessive  in  1847  106 

Sherman,  Gen’l,  ordered  to  confiscate  cotton  85 

Slave  labor.  Food  allowance  for  107 

Value  of  78 

Sore  shin.  Cotton  effected  with  106 

Spindles  and  mills.  Number  of,  in  the  United  States  306 

South  Carolina,  Cotton  culture  first  introduced  11,  69 

First  exports  of  cotton  from  72,  73 

First  cotton  mills  in  71,  73,  74,  77,  80 

Commercial  cotton  crops  of,  1800-1908  (see  tables)  72  to  92 

Number  of  cotton  mills  and  spindles  (see  tables)  79  to  92 

Domestic  consumption  of  cotton  (see  tables)  79  to  92 

First  railroad  in  cotton  States  78 

First  cotton  oil  mill 77 

Acreage  planted  in  cotton  72,  288 

Corn  imported  into,  in  1843  79 

Counties  producing  cotton  78 

Cotton  consumed  in  several  counties  92 

Cost  of  cotton  production  91 

Yield  of  cotton  per  acre  82,  91 

Area  and  production  compared  72 

Number  of  planters  in  91 

Southern  Cotton  Growers’  Association  organized  121,  122 

Spalding,  Thomas,  on  origin  of  Sea-Island  cotton  and  saw  gin  . ..  .95,  103 

Speculation  in  cotton  and  results  of  192,  198,  262,  263 

Spindles,  Number  of  cotton,  in  the  world  308 

Statistics  of  cotton.  Value  of,  recognized  148 

Improvements  made  in  collecting  33 

Stalk  of  cotton.  Extraordinary  growth  of  105 

Steamboats  introduced  on  the  Mississippi  River  166,  168 

On  the  Tennessee  River  143 

Number  of,  on  Mississippi  River  169,  192 

Steamship  “Savannah,”  first  to  cross  Atlantic 99 

Steam  ginning,  first  introduced  in  Mississippi  169 


INDEX 


319 


PAGE 

Stocks  of  cotton  in  United  States,  Unprecedentedly  small  in  1903, 

67,  93,  122,  134,  159,  186,  209,  235,  250,  267 
Storm,  Great  damage  to  crops  by 159,  186,  210,  231,  251 

Tariff,  Curious  views  respecting  101 

Tax  on  cotton  by  Federal  government  . .51,  61,  85,  112,  113,  115,  130, 

151,  156,  177,  201,  203,  220,  244,  261,  262,  270 

Tax  on  land  to  reduce  cotton  acreage  90 

Tennessee,  Cotton  culture  first  introduced  11,  253 

Commercial  cotton  crops  of.  1800-1908  (see  tables)  255  to  266 

Number  of  cotton  mills  and  spindles  (see  tables)  258  to  266 

Domestic  consumption  of  cotton  (see  tables)  258  to  266 

First  cotton  mills  255 

Acreage  planted  in  cotton 254,  288 

Exports  of  cotton  from,  in  1835  257 

Yield  of  cotton  per  acre  and  per  hand  258,  266 

Cost  of  cotton  production  249 

Area  and  production  compared  241 

Number  of  planters  266 

Tennessee  green  seed  variety 74,  99,  146,  164,  193 

Texas,  Cotton  culture  first  introduced  11,  212 

Commercial  cotton  crops  of,  1833-1908  (see  tables)  214  to  232 

Number  of  cotton  mills  and  spindles  (see  tables)  219  to  232 

Domestic  consumption  of  cotton  (see  tables)  219  to  232 

Acreage  planted  in  cotton  214,  288 

First  steamboat  at  Houston 216 

First  cotton  mill  219 

Cotton  bonds  issued 219 

Yield  per  acre  216,  217,  218,  222,  231,  236 

Extent  of  cotton  area  in  220,  223,  231,  236 

Condition  of  planters  in  228 

Cotton  grown  by  Germans  219 

Imports  of  food  supplies 227,  228 

Appearance  and  spread  of  boll-weevil, 

213,  227,  229,  232,  233,  234,  235,  237,  238 

Proportion  of  white  and  negro  labor  222 

Acreage  and  production  compared  214 

Cost  of  producing  cotton  229 

Number  of  planters  231 

Possibilities  of  cotton  production 213,  214,  224 

Texas  storm  proof  cotton.  Origin  of  223 

Ties,  iron,  Eirst  use  of 146,  172 

Todd,  G.  N.,  patents  cotton  picking  machine 246 

Toll  charged  for  ginning  77,  139,  166 

Trumble,  Nicholas,  one  of  first  Georgia  planters  101 


320 


INDEX 


PAGE 

Value  of  cotton  crops  from  1790  to  1908  .'299 

Varieties  of  Upland  cotton  in  various  States  . .Va.,  43;  S.  C.,  74,  75,  76,  78; 
Ga.,  95,  98,  99,  109,  121 ; Fla.,  126,  127 ; Ala.,  143,  146,  151 ; Miss., 
164,  170,  173,  174,  177;  La.,  189,  191,  193,  196,  208;  Tex.,  223; 
Ark.,  243;  Okla.,  279. 

Mexican  cotton.  Origin  of  164,  165,  196 

Tennessee  green  seed  74,  99,  146,  164,  193 

Xankeen,  Value  of 75,  100,  172 

Yield  of,  in  various  States, 

77,  85,  91,  99,  102,  113,  182,  184,  208,  218,  231 

Sea-Island,  Origin  of  95 

Advice  as  to  selection  of 158 

Virginia,  Cotton  culture  first  introduced  10,  43 

Commercial  cotton  crops  of,  1800-1908  (see  tables)  45  to  53 

Number  of  cotton  mills  and  spindles  (see  tables)  49  to  53 

Domestic  consumption  of  cotton  (see  tables)  49  to  53 

First  cotton  mills  47 

Counties  producing  cotton  48,  53 

Acreage  planted  in  cotton  288 

First  cotton  oil  mill  in  L^nited  States  47 

Cost  of  cotton  production  53 

Number  of  planters 53 

Visible  world’s  cotton  supply  each  week  (1902-1908)  304 

Wages  of  farm  labor  in  Louisiana  197 

Watkins,  Joseph,  real  inventor  of  cotton  saw  gin 96,  103 

Warehouses  for  cotton  in  Mobile,  1851  148 

Warehousing  cotton  to  control  prices  108 

Weather  Bureau,  First  crop  reports  by  203 

Report  on  rainfall  in  cotton  States  295,  296 

Weevil,  Mexican  boll,  Introduction  and  spread  of, 

186,  209,  213,  251,  281 

Weights  of  cotton  bales  29,  30,  31,  306 

Whitney’s  saw  gin  12,  76,  96,  98,  103,  161,  253 

Whittemore’s  Sea-Island  cotton  gin  78 

Wilmington,  Early  exports  of  cotton  from  55,  57,  59 

World’s  production  and  consumption  of  cotton  300 

World’s  visible  supply  of  301 

Worms,  Damage  to  cotton  crops  by  ....Va.,  51;  N.  C.,  65;  S.  C.,  73,  85, 
87,  88;  Ga.,  98,  103,  106,  113,  114,  116;  Fla.,  127,  128,  131,  132; 
Ala.,  142,  143,  144,  152,  153,  154;  Miss.,  171,  172,  173,  180,  181,  182; 
La.,  190,  195,  203,  204,  205,  209 ; Tex.,  215,  216,  221,  222,  224,  225, 
226,  227,  229,  234;  Ark.,  245,  246,  247,  250;  Tenn.,  257,  262,  263; 
Mo.,  269. 


INDEX 


321 


PAGE 


Yield  of  cotton  in  various  States, 

52,  60,  63,  65,  77,  82,  85,  91,  99,  102,  113,  140,  149,  174,  175,  182, 
184,  208,  218,  231,  243. 

Per  hand  78,  91,  122,  179,  242 

Extraordinary,  per  acre  . .62,  64,  65,  87,  113,  114,  115,  130,  144,  216,  222 


More  Cotton  on  Less  Acreage 

BROWN’S  NO.  1 COTTON 

A DISTINCT  VARIETY  IN  A CLASS  BY  ITSELF. 

CHARACTERISTICS  : — EARLY  — LONG  LIMBED  — LARGE 
BOLLS-FIVE  LOCKS  TO  THE  BOLL-EASY  TO  PICK- 
PROLIFIC  YIELD.  LINTS  40  TO  44%. 


WHAT  OTHERS  SAY  ABOUT  IT 

“ I have  the  best  of  other  cottons,  but  Brown’s  No.  1 made  more  lint 
than  any.  It  is  easy  to  pick  and  continues  to  bear  until  frost. 

L.  Brockton  Park,  Commerce,  Ga. 

(In  1907  Mr.  Park  made  on  one  acre,  3987  pounds  of  seed  cotton, 
which  ginned  out  1 590  pounds  of  lint). 

“ It  will  make  a third  more;  it  is  the  earliest  and  easiest  to  pick  I ever 
saw.”  J.  H.  Jones,  Bremen,  Ga. 

“ It  is  the  best  cotton  to  boll  that  I everVaised.” 

Jeff  Dean,  Bowersville,  Ga. 

“ I consider  your  cotton  the  best  I have  ever  raised.  It  opens  well,  the 
large  fine  bolls  are  easily  picked,  while  they  hold  the  cotton  and  it  does 
not  drop  out  like  other  big  boll  botton.” 

Mrs.  Lula  T.  Lyon,  Cartersville,  Ga. 

“It  is  a healthy  grower,  fruits  fastest  and  earliest,  and  none  equals  it  in 
picking  qualities.”  George  B.  Dominick,  Laco,  S.  C. 

“I  would  give  $10.00  per  bushel  for  your  seed  before  1 would  plant 
common  cotton.”  J.  Z.  Crowley,  Harvey,  Ark. 

“ It  has  made  for  me  50  per  cent,  more  than  any  other  good  cotton.  It 
is  the  healthiest  cotton  known  to  this  part  of  Alabama.  It  is  all-round  the 
greatest  money  maker  in  the  shape  of  cotton  known.  ” 

G.  F.  Love,  Lineville,  Ala. 


The  seed  are  put  up  in  bushel  sacks  of  30  pounds  each,  and  are  sold 
for  $3.00. 

In  ordering,  always  have  money  to  accompany  your  order.  You  may 
send  money  by  Express,  or  Post-office  money  order,  registered,  or  through 
your  bank,  whichever  may  be  the  most  convenient. 

Order  early  before  the  seed  are  all  sold. 

MARCUS  L.  BROWN 

Post-Office  Box  48  DECATUR,  GEORGIA 


Leon  G.  Glbert  Cable  Address 

Geo.  W.  Clay  “ Glbclay  ” 

ESTABLISHED  1893 

GIBERT  & CLAY 
Bankers, 

Cotton  Merchants 

822  Gravier  Street 
New  Orleans,  La. 

A General  Banking  Business  Transacted 
Advances  Made  on  Approved  Collaterals 


Members : 

New  Orleans  Cotton  Exchange 
New  Orleans  Stock  Exchange 
New  York  Cotton  Exchange 
Liverpool  Cotton  Association 


Orders  for  future  delivery  of  Cotton  executed  on 
New  Orleans,  New  York  and  Liverpool  Cotton 
Exchanges 


Charles  D.  Freeman 
Elwood  P.  McEnany 
Ernest  E.  Calloway 


Charles  D.  Freemcin  & Co. 

Cotton  Commission  Merchants 


21  South  William  Street 
New  York 


Members  of 

New  York  Cotton  Exchange 
New  Orleans  Cotton  Exchange 
Liverpool  Cotton  Association 


HAGEDORN  & CO. 

D.  SCHNAKENBERG,  President 

6 HANOVER  ST.,  NEW  YORK 


General  Insurance  Brokers 
Especial  attention  paid  to  the  execution  of 
orders  for  Insurance  on  Cotton  against 
Fire  and  Marine  Perils 
Annual  Contracts  Arranged 
Claims  promptly  adjusted  and  collected 
without  charge 

ESTABLISHED  1869 

CABLE  ADDRESS.  “HAGEDORN,  NEW  YORK" 
ABC,  5th  Edition;  A I and  Premier  Codes 


Jno.  C.  Latham  Chas.  Fraser 

Latham,  Alexander  & Co. 


BANKERS  AND  COTTON 
COMMISSION  MERCHANTS 


16  and  18  Wall  Street,  New  York 

Conduct  a General  Banking  Business  ^ Members  of  the  NewYork 
Stock  and  Cotton  Exchanges  ^ Accounts  of  Banks,  Bankers, 
Merchants  and  Individuals  received  on  favorable  terms  and  Interest 
allowed  on  Daily  Balances,  subject  to  check  at  sight  ^ Contracts 
for  Cotton  for  future  delivery  bought  and  sold  on  commission 


Gwathmey  & Co. 
Cotton 

49  Cotton  Exchange 
New  York 


HUBBARD  BROS.  & CO. 
COTTON  MERCHANTS 


COFFEE  EXCHANGE  BUILDING 
HANOVER  SQUARE,  NEW  YORK 


ADVANCES  MADE  ON  CONSIGNMENTS 

Members  : 

New.  York  Cotton  Exchange  New  York  Coffee  Exchange 

New  York  Produce  Exchange  New  Orleans  Cotton  Exchange 

Chicago  Board  of  Trade 
Associate  Members  Liverpool  Cotton  Association 


STEPHEN  M.  WELD  & CO. 

Cotton  Commission  Merchants 
New  York  City 

82-92  BEAVER  STREET 

Members  of  New  York,  New  Orleans  and  Liverpool  Exchanges 
Orders  for  Future  Deliveries  Executed  on  all  Exchanges 
Special  Attention  to  Spinners’  Orders.  Correspondence  Solicited 


CORRESPONDENTS : 

Stephen  M.  Weld  & Co.,  89  State  Street,  Boston 
Stephen  M.  Weld  & Co.,  Provident  Building,  Philadelphia 
Weld  & Co.,  Liverpool,  England 
Albrecht,  Weld  & Co.,  Bremen,  Germany 


DICK  BROS.  & CO. 

STOCKS,  BONDS,  COTTON,  GRAIN 

Bankers  and  Brokers 
30  Broad  Street 
New  York 

Members : 

New  York  Stock  Exchange  New  Orleans  Cotton  Exchange 

New  York  Cotton  Exchange  Philadelphia  Stock  Exchange 

New  York  Coffee  Exchange  Chicago  Board  of  Trade 

Liverpool  Cotton  Association 

PRIVATE  WIRES  TO  ALL  PRINCIPAL  CITIES 


Established  in  1856 

Henry  Hentz  & Co. 

COMMISSION  MERCHANTS 

16  to  22  William  Street 
New  York 


Execute  Orders  for  Future  Delivery 

COTTON  at  the  New  York,  Liverpool  and  New  Orleans  Cotton  Exchanges. 
Also  orders  for 

COFFEE  at  the  New  York  Coffee  Exchange 

GRAIN  AND  PROVISIONS  at  the  Chicago  Board  of  Trade  and 

GRAIN  AND  COTTON-SEED  OIL  at  the  New  York  Produce  Exchange 


Members  of  New  York  Cotton  Exchange  New  York  Coffee  Exchange 

New  Orleans  Cotton  Exchange  Liverpool  Cotton  Ass’n,  Ltd. 

SELLAR,  WILSON  & CO. 

Cotton  Commission  Merchants 

82  Beaver  Street,  New  York 

Bush  & Witherspoon  Co. 

Cotton 

WACO, TEXAS 

Cable  Address  “ Wibus” 

Branch  Offices:  Dallas,  Hillsboro, Waxahachie, Taylor,  Cisco,  Brownwood 
All  shipments  concentrated  at  Galveston  for  reclassing,  stapling  and  reweighing 


B.  B.  FORD  & CO. 

Macon,  Ga.,  and  Columbia,  S.  C. 

COTTON  MERCHANTS 

Dealers  in 

Carolina,  Georgia,  Mississippi  and  Alabama  Cottons 

CORRESPONDENCE  SOLICITED 


DIXIE  COTTON  COMPANY 

SANDERSVILLE,  GA. 

Cotton  Buyers  and  Exporters 

Buying  Offices  at  all  the  Principal  Points  in  Middle  Georgia 


REIS  & CO. 

(Established  1856) 

COTTON,  LINTERS,  PICKINGS  AND  “WASTES” 
Contractors  for  ALL  KINDS  OF  COTTON-MILL  WASTES 
Importers  of  GUNNY  BAGGING  FOR  BALING  PURPOSES 

620  Atlantic  Avenue 
Boston,  Mass. 

Friedrichsfeld-Heidelberg,  Germany  Salford-Manchester,  England 


W.  A.  Arthur  Cotton  Co. 

TEXARKANA,  TEX.-ARK. 

Buyers  of  Texas  and  Arkansas 

Cotton 

Special  attention  given  to  Selections  made  for 

Extra  Staple  orders  Spinners’  needs 


W.  J.  DAVIS  & CO. 

COTTON  MERCHANTS 

JACKSON,  MISSISSIPPI 

Mississippi  Black  Land  Growth 

A SPECIALTY 

Cable  Address  p , I Myers  Atlantic,  39th  Edition 

“Davisco”  o es . ^ Sheppersons  Editions,  1878  and  1881 


S.  A.  SHAW 

COTTON  BUYER  OF  TWENTY  YEARS’ 
EXPERIENCE 

At  Weatherford,  Cleburne  and  other  Central  Texas  Points,  now  of 

CHILDRESS,  TEXAS 

Correspondence  Solicited 


BESTETTI  & CERETTI 
Cotton  Agents 
Milan,  Italy 


BASHINSKY  & CO. 

Troy,  Alabama 

Cotton  Merchants  for  Export  and  American  Mills 

Ejtablished  in  1878 


J.  H.  BERRY 

Cotton 
Tulsa,  Okla. 


DEADWYLER  & SMITH 

Cotton 
Athens,  Ga. 


EURE,  HARRIS  & CO. 

Cotton  Factors  and  General  Commission  Merchants 
Norfolk,  Va. 


KNOKE  & EIBAND 

Cotton  Buyers  and  Exporters,  Owners  and  Dealers  in  Farm  Lands 
Foreign  Exchange  Sold  on  All  Parts  of  the  World 
New  Braunfels,  Texas 


W.  J.  TOWNSEND 
Cotton 

Lufkin,  Texas 


ALBERT  WALL 
Cotton 

Ellaville,  Ga. 


NUSSBAUM  & SCHARFF 

Groesbeeck,Texas 

Cotton  Merchants.  Correspondence  solicited  from  all  buyers  of 
Black  Land  Cotton.  Inch  to  Inch  and  Three-Sixteenth  Staple 


BUSINESS  DIRECTORY 

OF  FIRMS  IN  THE  SOUTH  INTERESTED 
IN  THE  COTTON  TRADE 


ALABAMA 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Tuskaloosa,  at 
Tuskaloosa. 

ARKANSAS 

S.  C.  Alexander  Cotton  Co.,  Pine  Bluff. 

L.  P.  Barkdull  & Co.,  Cotton  Buyers,  Fort 
Smith. 

Dr.  J.  T.  Cheairs,  Winchester. 

S.  C.  Dowell,  Real  Estate  Broker,  Walnut 
Ridge. 

N.  Straub  Sons  Mercantile  Co.,  Cotton  Fac- 
tors, Helena. 

W.  B.  Waller,  General  Merchandise,  Prescott. 

FLORIDA 

Citizens  State  Bank,  Marianna. 

J.  D.  Smith,  Pres.,  E.  B.  Erwin,  Cash. 

GEORGIA 

Bashinski  Brothers,  Exporters,  Dublin. 

The  A.  P.  Brantley  Company,  Sea-Island 
Cotton,  Blackshear. 

Elberton  Cotton  & Compress  Co.,  Elberton. 

LOUISIANA 

E.  B.  Coco  & Co.,  Ltd.  Merchants  & Planters, 
Longbridge. 

W.  T.  Heiu'y,1General  Merchandise  & Cotton, 
Rayville. 

Mouton  Bros.  King  Cotton  always  receives  our 
best  attention,  Lafayette. 

R.  C.  Sparks  & Co.,  Cotton  Commission. 
Eist.  1892,  Monroe. 


MISSISSIPPI 

J.  T.  Atterbury,  Estill. 

S.  B.  Dean  & Co.,  Merchants,'_Planters  & 
Cotton  Buyers  Eudora. 

Dean  & Company,  Merchants,  Planters  & 
Cotton  Buyers,  Nesbit. 

Durant  Commercial  Co.,  Cotton  Buyers, 
Durant. 

First  National  BankJAberdeen.  U.  S.  De- 
pository. 

Ira  Jones,  Tchula. 

W.  A.  McDonald,  Attorney  &^Counsellor  a} 
Law,  Ashland. 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

Baker  & Edwards,T  General  Merchandise, 
Lewiston. 

Parker  Bros.  & Co.,  Cotton  Brokers  & Mer- 
chants, Raleigh. 

OKLAHOMA 

E.  E.  Andrews,  Cotton,  Bagging,  Cotton  Ties 
& Mill  products,  Hobart. 

J.  A.  Andrews,  Cotton  Buyer,  Mountain  View. 

Harriss-Irby  Cotton  Company,  Cotton  Mer- 
chants, Head  Office,  Oklahoma  City. 

J.  E.  Terrell  & Co.,  Hardware  Implements 
& General  Merchandise,  Texola. 

SOUTH  CAROLINA 

J.  S.  Craft,  Cotton  Buyer,  North. 

Perry  C.  Dukes,  General  Merchandise  & 
Cotton  Branchville. 

Springs  & Shannon,  Bankers,  Merchants, 
Cotton  Buyers,  Camden. 


BUSINESS  DIRECTORY  - Cont. 


TEXAS 

Baugh  & Read,  Cotton  Merchants,  Cisco. 

Branches:  Stamford,  Weatherford,  Houston. 

S.  L.  Crawford,  Selected  Spinners  Cotton, 
Austin. 

E.  J.  Byrne,  Texas  Blackland  Cottons,  Austin. 

Jno.  W.  Furrh,  Dealer  in  Merchandise,  R.  R. 
Cross  Ties,  etc.,  Waskom. 

S.  A.  Harwell,  Cotton  Buyer,  Naples. 

The  Home  National  Bank  of  Baird,  Callahan 
County. 


D.  T.  Iglehart  & Co.,  Cotton  Merchants, 
Austin. 

Lemburgs,  Buy  Cotton,  Wool,  Hides,  Furs  & 
all  Country  Produce,  Mason. 

Hugh  G.  Maclean,  General  Merchandise, 
Eden. 

E.  H.  Powell,  Clarendon. 

J.  E.  Terrell  & Co.,  Hdw.  Implements  & 
Gen’l  Merchandise,  Shamrock. 

G.  Tips,  Groceries,  Implements,  Wagons  & 
Cotton,  Runge. 

The  Traders  National  Bank,  Fort  Worth. 
Established  1 882. 


THE  ONLY  UNCERTAIN  FACTOR  IN  THE  MAKING 
of  the  American  Cotton  Crop  IS  THE  WEATHER 

THE  ONLY  CERTAIN  METHOD  OF  OBTAINING 

an  accurate  knowledge  of 

THE  CONDITIONS  SURROUNDING  THE  GROWING  CROP 

is  by  subscribing  for 

HABERSHAM  KING’S  COTTON  CROP  RECORD 

which  presents  in  condensed  and  attractive  form,  four  times  a month 
during  the  growing  season,  a correct  record  of  the  actual  rainfall  and 
temperature  over  the  entire  cotton  belt 

8 YEARS  OF  SUCCESSFUL  PRACTICAL  DEMONSTRATION 

of  the  correctness  of  this  theory. 

WRITE  FOR  SPECIMEN  COPY  TO 

HABERSHAM  KING,  NEWNAN,  GA. 

Recently  moved  to  682  No.  Boulevard,  Atlanta,  Ga. 


VV. 


FORM  335  40M  9-42 


MiOaV^ 

Duke  University  Libraries 


D00417033I 


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